Uganda’s leading universities of Kyambogo, Makerere and Uganda Christian University (UCU) have trashed multiple requests by students and parents to reduce tuition for final year students who recently resumed studies.
During a meeting with the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Kadaga on Wednesday, Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Kyambogo University’s Prof. Eli Katunguka and Uganda Christian University’s Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi discussed a number of issues with guild leaders from different public and private Universities.
The Vice Chancellors however declined to side with students on tuition reduction as most emphasized that learners should pay fully, explaining that the semester was almost complete when President Museveni closed universities in March.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo and State Minister of Finance for General Duties, Gabriel Ajedra.
According to Prof. Eli Katunguka, by the time the universities were closed in March, students had covered 75 to 80 percent of the syllabus and therefore should pay all their tuition fees. He added that the final year students should complete the payment of their fees before sitting examinations and they won’t be fined for paying late.
The meeting has come following a petition to Parliament by student leaders who requested that tuition should be reduced for finalists due to financial hardships caused by COVID-19. The students also argued that they should be allowed to sit for examinations and later complete their payment before securing their transcripts.
Prof Nawangwe who recently told finalists pay full tuition has also promised that they would discuss the matter with the university council and report to the Ministry of Education.
UCU’s Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi avoided giving his honest view and explained that the university management already discussed the same matter.
Before wrapping up the meeting, University Chancellors were given two weeks to discuss report back in two weeks.
