The students of Uganda’s largest and third-oldest institution of higher learning, Makerere University students have rejected the deadline issued by Prof John Dumba Ssentamu, the university vice chancellor for all students to pay up tuition fees or miss out on sitting their end of first semester exams.
Following consultations between members of MUASA and Council, as well as Government, the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) fraternity suspended their strike on 19th December 2016, heeding to the outcry of the country, parents/guardians and development partners.
The University thus re-opened 24th December to resumes Semester 1 that kicks off 2nd January 2017.
In a statement issued on December 28, Prof John Dumba Ssentamu said that no student would be allowed to sit for the exams without full payment of their fees by the 12th week of the semester.
“If you do not pay tuition, you do not sit for exams. We have given them enough time to pay tuition that is November and December so there is no excuse” Prof Dumba Ssentamu told the Daily Monitor, adding: “We need that money and those who want to strike will strike but there won’t be exams for them.”
According to the newspaper, the university guild president, Mr Roy Semboga, has rejected the tuition fees deadline arguing that students and parents should be left to pay the fees at their convenience since they incurred unplanned expenditures when the university was ordered closed by President Museveni on November 1.
“We are to pay tuition by the 12th week of the semester as per the new policy, but we urge management to be lenient because we have gone into unplanned costs,” he stated, additionally demanded that the lecturers release the marks for students who are to graduate in February to avoid instances of some students missing out.
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