Studies for 150 students on halt

The students are expected to study from Dubai.

Kampala

At least 150 students, who have been pursuing their degrees at Victoria University, will have to wait longer until the administration finalise the date of resumption with new partner institutions. Dr David Young, the Vice Chancellor, said they had concluded on which universities individual students can choose from to continue with their studies but had not completed on the date of resumption.

Dr Young said while the university will meet the costs of transport to and from the university to their residence, the students will have to contend with paying transport fees from Uganda to their respective countries. However, the tuition does not change.

“Most of the students affected have accepted the offer of transfer and they appear to be grateful for the efforts taken to minimise the inconvenience caused to them. Transport costs from Uganda to Dubai are not included in the offer. The dates of resumption of studies is still being discussed with the institutions concerned,” he said.

Early this year, the institution and the University of Buckingham in the UK came to a joint agreement to suspend programmes delivered at the former because of conflicting laws in the duo concerning human rights particularly on the anti-gay bill.

Dr Young denied allegations that the university would close, saying at least 46 students in the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences were not affected because their programmes are validated by Victoria University. But he regretted that the suspension of the “Buckingham” programmes had affected a number of staff making them “redundant”.

However, for students who cannot afford going to Dubai and UK, Edulink Holdings Ltd, the founders and owners of Victoria University, can wait for another year as plans are underway to open another institution in Kenya by January next year.

pahimbisibwe@ug.nationmdia.com