A section of Makerere students are threatening to organise a strike at the beginning of next semester if the administration at the University goes on to implement a proposed policy that will see freshers pay 100% fees before issuance of admissions.
The students argument is that the previous policy was vacated after being found out to be unrealistic and that a new policy was only to be put in place after necessary consultations among all stakeholders. They claim no consultations among students (who are stakeholders in this too) has taken place whatsoever.
The policy further requires all continuing students to pay all functional fees at the beginning of every academic year.
Registration MUST be done within the first two weeks of the semester upon payment of 30% of the tuition fees. Delay of registration within the first two weeks attracts payment of a fine in form of UGX 100,000 as surcharge.
During the last teamster of the 2015-2016 Academic year, the University was crippled by a week-long demonstration that necessitated the intervention of the IGP Gen. Kayihura and the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda for the situation to calm down.
This was the game changer that saw the revocation of the very unpopular 60% tuition policy by the 6th week.
Some of the student leaders are already in high gear to oppose the policy from the moment ‘go’.
Prominent among them is a one Papa Were Salim the GRC of Nsibirwa Hall who has vowed to fight the proposed policy at any cost.
“Implementing such a policy is surely undermining our struggles against the 60% (tuition policy).
We wont accept.”
