Robert Mwanje
9 November 2009
Kampala — Kampala City councilors have vowed to demonstrate over the recent university tuition fees increment if government does not halt the new fees and abolish registration deadlines.
Makerere University district councilor Mr Bernard Luyiga on Thursday said the university tuition fees were increased without consulting the stakeholders. He said many students have failed to register whereas a number of continuing students have applied for dead years. "As I talk now, over 5,000 students are yet to register barely five days to the closing deadline," Mr Luyiga said. "We have evidence that over 800 students have already applied for dead year, yet hundreds of others have dropped out of the university because of failure to raise the required fees."
A press statement signed by at least 10 councilors, revealed that several students have resorted to dodging lectures in order to do odd jobs to raise tuition. The end of semester exams are set to begin on November 30. The councilors gave the universities and government a ten-day ultimatum to reverse the fees hike, lest they petition President Museveni.
By the end of October, almost 5,000 students, out of the 13,455 admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship had not turned up for registration citing failure to pay the required tuition fees. A further 4,609 private students did not turn up for studies. According to a recent policy passed by the University Council, for a private student to be eligible for registration, he has to pay all functional fees (app.Shs500,000) and full tuition.
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