Following the presidential directive to close all schools and higher academic institutions on 20th March 2020 so as to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, university students are one of those that were directly affected.
Some students from Mbarara Universit of Science and Technology (MUST) who interacted with our reporter explained that they come from distant places like Arua, Palisa, Kapchorwa, Yumbe and that not all of their parents were able to send them money in time before a ban was put on public transport since the cost of travelling home was higher than what they would afford. Some others thought it was wise to use the “two weeks” to complete their research projects in preparation for their final touches in their respective courses.
The decision has however, in the long run. turned out to be a furnace for most of them since hunger has become a daily visitor. In their reserves, they had simply prepared for a fortnight but the lock down has become a continuous lyrics of “14 days after 14 days”.
According to Bukenya Hakim a third year Biology – Chemistry student who also served as Minister of Education in the previous guild government, over 80 students who are currently starving in their hostels/rentals have been registered.
“We have so far registered 80 students who are stuck in Mbarara and are starving to death. I tried to engage the University administration but they have made it clear that they do not have an additional budget to help such students. It however surprised us that our counterparts in other sister universities like Kyambogo and Makerere have been helped through the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), as if we are not part of UNSA,’’ He expressed his frustration.
A female medical student who preferred anonymity was troubled about how ‘MUST students are ignored by the government in this period yet they play a big role to the people of Mbarara and Uganda at large.’
“MUST students have a great impact to the community around them through the different community activities such as extending health services, school and community health and social – economic out reaches as well as changing the standards of living to those around them through providing a ready market to those with businesses including the landlords. But now in this trying moment we are left out! We subscribe to UNSA and we are also citizens of Uganda, its therefore surprising that the society has simply given us a cold shoulder and have decided to watch them starve softly” She told Campus Bee.
They requested the government, society and the university administration to come to their rescue before something more disastrous happens to them.
