Eight arrested as 200 Busoga University students demonstrate over exams

Eight students of Busoga University in Iganga District were on Tuesday arrested for allegedly starting a demonstration that attracted 200 students.
The students were demonstrating against their failure to get assurance from the administration that they will sit for their final Uganda Nursing and Midwifery Examinations due next month.

The demonstration that started on Monday followed a discovery by the students that they were not registered and will most likely not sit for the examinations.
The students refused to have meals as they sought an explanation from the University administration
Police were called in from Iganga Central Police Station to quell the situation and force the students out of the University.

They were offered alternative accommodation at Iganga Boys’ Primary School where they are staying as their grievances are being handled.
Speaking to reporters at Iganga Boys’ Primary School, Ms Mariam Nabirye, one of the students, said the administration had duped them and their parents into believing that the University was not closed.
She said: “We need to know whether we shall sit for our final examinations next month. The administration lied to us that the University was not closed and we have been paying tuition.”
Michael Bukayi, another student, said he was worried after getting information that the University was closed and he was not going to sit for his final examinations.

“Most of us have cleared our tuition and even paid the mandatory examination fee of Shs150,000 per student but heard that we are not going to sit for the exams and don’t know what to do,” he said.
The students say they have been paying Shs1.4 million per semester as tuition and asked Government to intervene and allow them to sit exams.
When contacted, the University Publicist, Mr Andrew Balondemu, said government was in the process of taking over the University but asked the students and parents to remain calm.

“A committee was put in place to spearhead the transition process and it is being headed by the State Minister for Higher Education Mr John Chrysestom Muyingo and it will soon start its work. It is from there that the affected students shall be helped,” Mr Balondemu said.
Mr Balondemu added that the fate of the students will be determined by that committee though he was non-committal on whether the students will be allowed to sit their final examinations.

The University has endured uncertainty following its closure in December by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and its license revoked. The administration has however since ignored the directive and continued with operations.
In a revocation letter released by the executive director of NCHE, Prof. John Opuda-Asibo, the University was accused of lacking qualified staff, irregular admission of students, teaching uncredited programmes and graduating students who did not qualify.

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