The second semester for the academic year 2019/2020 at Kampala International University (KIU) started this week on Monday 6th January. Some of the new changes the students found in place when they reported back was that of transferring the Faculty of Engineering from the KIU main campus in Kampala to it’s Ishaka branch in Western Uganda.
Many students and other stake holders were left worried of why the Management decided to transfer the whole faculty in the middle of the academic year. This has also created shortage of places of residence to students in the western campus because of the growing population of students in the area. The demand for hostels is high which has almost doubled the prices of the available hostels.
“If you have not yet booked a hostel or rental in Ishaka and you’re reading this now it is probably too late for you. The new Engineering students are in town and they are taking down every empty house or hostel they get their hands on like Vikings tearing through villages.” A one Isiret Tukei posted on their local news website.
“Ishaka housing is sadly not in position to accommodate all the thousands of KIU students and with that being said, the housing crisis is surging higher than before. The options are getting slim every time. The rent fee has almost doubled. Standard of living is becoming unbearable. This totally has nothing to do with this being January. Semester is less than a week old but nothing is affordable here.” He added
According to the students this is ridiculously irrational. “Imagine it’s the beginning of the semester. This is when everyone is assumed to be a bit loaded. I fear for what will become of this place as the semester matures. Many students will be forced to choose between getting roommates or pay a fairly elevated fee for a room.” Barbra a student at KIU showed her dissatisfaction.
