Makerere fees hike yet to be approved
Mar 10, 2009
THE education ministry is yet to approve the new fees structure proposed by Makerere University. Earlier this year, President Yoweri Museveni allowed the university to increase fees for private students.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
and Francis Kagolo
THE education ministry is yet to approve the new fees structure proposed by Makerere University. Earlier this year, President Yoweri Museveni allowed the university to increase fees for private students.
An official at the ministry yesterday said the university had submitted the proposed fees structure for approval.
The ministry will have to seek the Cabinet’s approval, the source said.
The university had wanted to increase fees by sh400,000 but the Government blocked the increment.
This was until a delegation to the President accepted to revise the fees structure.
In a January 19 letter to the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, the President said the decision was reached after a meeting with the University Council chairman, Matthew Rukikaire and his deputy, Christine Kiganda, at State House Nakasero in December 2008.
Under the proposed structure, the source said the increment would be split between two semesters.
On top of a sh400,000 tuition increment, the university proposed that private students, who are resident in the university’s halls, pay an additional sh150,000 on top of the sh340,000 being paid.
The structure was approved by the university finance committee.
The vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, said: “We are considering that fees increment. Prices of supplies have gone up.â€
The university has been facing financial constraints, which have led to a series of strikes from the lecturers and students.
The fees structure has not been reviewed since 1997, when the private sponsorship scheme was started.
Private students last year petitioned Parliament over the fees increment, saying it was unfair and exorbitant.
and Francis Kagolo
THE education ministry is yet to approve the new fees structure proposed by Makerere University. Earlier this year, President Yoweri Museveni allowed the university to increase fees for private students.
An official at the ministry yesterday said the university had submitted the proposed fees structure for approval.
The ministry will have to seek the Cabinet’s approval, the source said.
The university had wanted to increase fees by sh400,000 but the Government blocked the increment.
This was until a delegation to the President accepted to revise the fees structure.
In a January 19 letter to the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, the President said the decision was reached after a meeting with the University Council chairman, Matthew Rukikaire and his deputy, Christine Kiganda, at State House Nakasero in December 2008.
Under the proposed structure, the source said the increment would be split between two semesters.
On top of a sh400,000 tuition increment, the university proposed that private students, who are resident in the university’s halls, pay an additional sh150,000 on top of the sh340,000 being paid.
The structure was approved by the university finance committee.
The vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, said: “We are considering that fees increment. Prices of supplies have gone up.â€
The university has been facing financial constraints, which have led to a series of strikes from the lecturers and students.
The fees structure has not been reviewed since 1997, when the private sponsorship scheme was started.
Private students last year petitioned Parliament over the fees increment, saying it was unfair and exorbitant.