Makerere University has suspended at least two students and issued several warning letters to other students over the 2016 Makerere University fees policy whose implementation has been protested.
The university on Tuesday suspended two students in fear that they were mobilizing students to cause unrest in the institution.
According to the suspension letters, the suspended students are accused of participating in planning and mobilizing fellow students to participate in acts that are disruptive in nature.
The suspended students shall be invited to the disciplinary committee to make their defense when investigations are complete.
Several student leaders have also been issued with warning letters for their alleged involvement in mobilizing students to protest the fees policy.
“The acts committed include organizing to hold a demonstration against the university fees policy and inciting other students for unlawful action,” the warning letters read in part.
The suspensions follow a directive by Makerere University to implement the contested 2016 fees policy. According to the directive seen by this publication, college heads have been ordered to block students from attending classes, sitting for examinations among other services if they don’t abide by the policy.
According to the Makerere 2016 fees policy, students shall be charged whenever they delay paying tuition as per the guidelines. Students must pay a deposit of at least UGX 200, 000 in the first month of the semester failure to do so attracts a surcharge.
The dean of students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli said on Tuesday that the policy had been deferred during the COVID-19 lockdown leading to a significant accumulation of student debt.
“This policy, effective since 2016, was temprarily deferred during the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to a significant accumulation of student debt, which impacts the delivery of essential teaching and learning services,” she said.
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