This week, Kyambogo University students resorted to alternative modes of communicating their grievances, which resulted into several arrests that made the situation dire.
Issues that needed management’s attention included allowances for government sponsored students, delay in release of examination results and unfair surcharges on tuition.
In the wake of the continued protests, the top management met on Thursday 4th May, 2023 to discuss the current state of the university following the students’ unrest.
Below are the full details of the Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka’s remarks;
Management received and considered a security report from the Chief Security Officer highlighting the four listed grievances as the cause of the students’ demonstration;
- Payment of upkeep and living out allowances to Government-sponsored Students for the FY 2022/2023,
- Delay in release of examination results,
- Surcharge levy,
- Payment of staff salaries.
The purpose of this letter is to relay management’s response to the above student’s concerns.
- PAYMENT OF UPKEEP AND LIVING OUT ALLOWANCES TO GOVERNMENT SPONSORED STUDENTS FOR THE FY 2022/2023
During the Financial Year 2022/2023, the University budgeted for upkeep and living out allowances for Government-sponsored students for the two semesters totaling to Ugx 3,388,804,000 and this has since been paid out to all beneficiaries.
However, the disruptions occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID19 pandemic and admission of another cohort of students, who were remnants of the 2021/2022 admissions, caused the University to run three semesters contrary to the planned two semesters. Consequently, the third admission caused financial constraints on the current budget including living out allowances for Government-sponsored students.
In a letter dated 14th April 2023, the University communicated this challenge to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and requested for a supplementary budget of Ugx 1,694,402,000 to cater for upkeep and living out allowances of 2,455 Government-sponsored studentsfor this semester. This information was circulated to all Government-sponsored students and they were requested to be calm until the University receives a response from the Ministry.
In a letter dated 3rd May 2023, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development responded to Kyambogo University’s request for supplementary budget. In his letter, the PS/ST acknowledged receipt of Kyambogo University’s request and noted the need for the supplementary budget to cater for among others upkeep and living out allowances of Government-sponsored students. He mentioned that, Government was unable to provide a supplementary budget at this time. However, based on the budget performance for Kyambogo University, he released an additional expenditure limit amounting to Ugx 1.34bn against the vote 304-Kyambogo University Non-wage Recurrent budget to cater for among others upkeep and living out allowances.
In a meeting held today 4th May 2023, Top Management has studied the details of the letter from the PS/ST and agreed to utilise these funds to pay upkeep and living out allowances. The process of uploading warrants on the system and making arrangements to pay students have commenced. Management requests the Government-sponsored students to be calm as the process of remitting funds to their accounts progresses.
- DELAY IN RELEASE OF EXAMINATION RESULTS
The University is still grappling with the after effects of COVID-19. As such, there has been an overlap of activities such as double admission in one year to address the higher education needs of Ugandans. The end of semester II 2021/2022 Academic Year for continuing students and Semester I 2022/2023 Academic Year for Continuing students and Fresh student’s examinations were sat for from 16th January 2023 to 5th February 2023. Thereafter, Continuing students proceeded for Industrial Training, College Practice and School Practice. Marking for these examinations was scheduled to take place from 6th February 2023 and was supposed to end on 19th March 2023.
The current Semester I and Semester II for 2022/2023 Academic Year commenced on 18th March 2023.
Due to the overlapping activities, Senate has not been able to release examination results to students as earlier scheduled. Everything is being done to speedily release these results. Some departments and Faculties/Schools have already displayed results.
3. SURCHARGE LEVY
It should be noted that surcharge is not a compulsory charge. This can be avoided if a student settles her/his fees obligation within the stipulated time as given in the University Fees Payment Policy. The Guild President in his verbal submission to the University Council sitting on 27th April 2023 raised concerns about surcharge among others. The University Council guided him to write formally to Management for appropriate action. It is deplorable that the Guild President has not acted on the advice of the University Council since then. Management still awaits the submission from the Guild President for consideration and future submission to the University Council. According to information obtained from the Academic Management Information System (ACMIS), 11,911 students (54%) of the enrolled students have fully paid their fees and are registered on ACMIS. As these students paid according to the fees payment policy, they did not incur any surcharge.
4. PAYMENT OF STAFF SALARIES
There was a delay in payment of staff salaries. However, the government effected payment an 3rd May 2023 and all staff have received their salaries. Some allowances such as top up and teaching claims are yet to be paid. Management assures the teaching staff that all the pending teaching claims will be paid as soon as funds are available. Management has engaged Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) for additional financial resources to enable settlement of the pending claims.
CONCLUSION
This is, therefore, to request the Guild President to submit a formal request to Management on his concerns as advised by the University Council. Management is always open to dialogue as a way of resolving any grievances among staff and students.
I call on all students to return to the university to resume their lectures and urge lecturers to continue engaging students both physically and online. Please note that end of this semester examinations will begin the first week of June and there may be no opportunity to extend the semester beyond the scheduled time.
