Muteesa I Royal University students strike over tuition

Mar 14, 2016

Students claim the fees structures are also inconvenient and that many students have been forced to drop out or request for dead years

Police led by Old Kampala Police division operation officer Joseph Lwantoro for the majority of Monday afternoon maintained heavy deployment at Muteesa I Royal University's Kakeeka-Mengo campus in Kampala, to disperse striking students.

The students went on strike protesting what they termed as high university fees.

Students held placards, tree branches and shouted on the top of their voices saying the university administration is over charging them unnecessary fees and has failed to provide them with a conducive study environment.

Students further accused the university vice chancellor Prof. Arthur Serwanga for firing university staff including lecturers which makes student lag behind in their syllabi.

Birali Mugenyi, a third year student said management under the vice chancellor Serwanga is making students pay fees like identification fees, function fees, development fees and medical fees.

He added that the fees structures are also inconvenient and that many students have been forced to drop out or request for dead years as they could not manage paying the high tuition fees.

 

 olice deployed heavily at the campus to suppress the strike hoto by amadhan bbey Police deployed heavily at the campus to suppress the strike. Photo by Ramadhan Abbey

 

Joan Namulondo a first year student told New Vision that the administration has also set students' graduation to take place yearly and have failed to explain why.

"They have now set that students will be graduating in an interval of a year yet we pay function fees each year," she said.

They demanded to meet the Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga to explain their problems and find solutions.

The guild president David Sekiryowa said they have for long addressed their issues to the administration which has turned a blind eye.

Sekiryowa requested the Ministry of Education to intervene in their matter before the numbers of students dropping out of the university rise.

 rof saac igongo promised that the university management will sit and discuss issues students are raising Prof. Isaac Kigongo promised that the university management will sit and discuss issues students are raising.

 

He further called on the university chancellor to come out and give students accountability on the development and medical fees they pay to the university.

Deputy vice chancellor Prof. Isaac Kigongo told New Vision that students have to pay 40% of their tuition before their mid-semester tests adding that this money is needed to pay the university staff.

"Students have to understand and pay 40% of their tuition for the university to pay lecturers and other staff. When they are paid in time, they will also enjoy their stay and services at the university," he said.

He added that the university combined all fees adding that students now pay a general fee where the university takes different amounts for other requirements.

Prof Kigongo promised that the university management will sit and discuss issues students are raising and find possible solutions.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the rowdy students who were all ordered off the university premises until further notice.

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