Makerere students on strike over increased graduation fees

Makerere University Guild president (in glasses) talking to fellow students during their demonstration at the university on Monday as the Regional police operations commander Kampala Metropolitan North Sam Omala looked on. The students were demonstrating over the increase of graduation fees from Shs 90,000 to Shs220,000. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

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Early this year, the university management reported a Shs23.1billion shortfall in its budget for the 2013/14 academic year, hence being unable to meet lecturers’ demands

Police on Monday morning fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse rowdy students during a strike at Makerere University.

One student was reported injured and was taken to Mulago hospital by a police patrol car.
The students are protesting the university council’s decision to increase graduation fees by more than double, poor quality of food and insecurity on the campus. Last week, the university management confirmed an increase in graduation fees from Shs90, 000 to Shs220, 000.
The strike which started at around 9:00am was not violent until 30 minutes later when students turned rowdy, forcing police led by operations commander for Kampala Metropolitan Sam Omala to fire tear gas to disperse them.

“Why is it only Makerere that is increasing graduation fees by such a margin? It makes me think that there are subversive tendencies at this university which are meant to discredit the government,” said Mr Omala.
However students have remobilised and gathered at the university main building. They have however, vowed not to leave until the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dumba Ssentamu who is locked up in a meeting with the students' guild president Ivan Bwowe addresses them.
On Thursday last week, the students gave the university management up to Monday (today) to review the graduation fees, which according to them is unfair.
“If our grievances are not addressed by Monday, we shall go on strike,” Mr Bwowe said on Thursday.
Since the beginning of this year, students have staged numerous strikes, opposing a number of management decisions and the last one was in July where they opposed the University council’s decision to scrap meals in the halls of residence and the 10 percent tuition increment policy for the new students, which management has since reversed.

This comes barely two months after President Yoweri Museveni directed the university to suspend the 10 percent tuition fee increment for new students which was expected to generate Shs 2.4 billion, this academic year.
Early this year, the university management reported a Shs23.1billion shortfall in its budget for the 2013/14 academic year, hence being unable to meet lecturers’ demands. Makerere had projected to raise Shs122.6 billion but fell short of Shs23.1 billion.