Following a week of protests at Makerere University, last semester that forced management to suspend their earlier communicated increment of up to 91%, in tuition, a students’ committee was constituted to look into the matter from a learners perspective and come up with recommendations on the complex matter.
The committee that was chaired by Mitchell hall chairman, Polly Bandola is said to have commenced works on 4th June 2018 with objectives that included among others; to study the financial challenges of the University and their impact on the quality of services, to make proposals and recommendations based on the findings, to consult other student leaders (formally & informally) on the way forward and to benchmark other universities in the region.
At a press conference on Monday 2nd July, the committee presented its recommendations that sought up to 75% increment in tuition that was to be carried out in phases of 15% increment per year for five years. The responses from their fellow students have not been appeasing as some went far enough to brand them traitors who had betrayed the students’ cause.
“We asked that they call an emergency sitting of the entire Guild Council for us to discuss the findings of their report comprehensively but they refused and just like that, 7 people sealed the fate of all students” Sulait Gamukama, the Guild Representative for the School of Psychology revealed.
In an attempt to save face after even alumni like Simon Wanyera who led strikes against the increment came out publicly to criticize the move by the guild president and committee, the Guild information minister, Martins Kato, has released a communique distancing the majority guild house from the said report.
He contends that the committee was mandated to investigate the policy of tuition increment and later present its findings to the Guild Representative Council (GRC) and management respectively.
“(They) however, found it unnecessary to share it with the GRC irrespective of their (guild council’s) continuous demand.
In a bid to lessen the tension, the 84th GRCs, therefore, distance themselves from the prevailing issue by the committee and management. However, they promise to take action for the best” Kato said.
Nonetheless, a section of students believe the university is underfunded and an increment in tuition would help it realise most of its development plans.
“Prof Nawangwe is a good manager, he is only let down by lack of resources. If we paid enough tuition and added the government subsidy, Makerere would surely prosper under him” a student told Campus Bee.
