Students of Mitchell and University Hall (UH) at Makerere University yesterday evening went on strike over what they termed as poor quality food provided by Venus Meals, a contracted company.
The hungry and angry students who at first refused to take their supper complained about not getting value for the money that they pay to the private contractors, Venus Meals, saying they need the issue solved immediately.
“We want a change in food…. We’ve suspended their buffet until our meals get better, and we are taking chicken and beef on Friday,” said Pius Nuwabaine, the UH Chairman.
Efforts to get a comment from the meals providers were fruitless as the responsible people disappeared the moment students started the strike.
Students argued they pay ‘much’ money and so they also need an increase on the amount of food that they are served.
“[At times], we go to class hungry [because of the little food served] and this is not how a student should live,” remarked Collins Tumukunde Shandaba, the Deputy Speaker of UH.
After Makerere University adminitration scrapped off a program of providing food to students in 2013, the same administration contracted several catering services to do the job in the 8 halls of residence at the campus.
Following this move, UH and Mitchell halls got Venus Meals services which has since been providing meals from breafast to supper which are taken from UH’s dining hall.
But students say that the quality of meals has been declining every day. Most students that eat these meals are government sponsored and a plate in all halls around campus goes for Shs 2000.
Surprisingly, by 9pm, the same students that had been protesting against the quality of meals provided had started lining up for supper.
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