Makerere postpones exams over strike

Kampala. Makerere University has postponed end of semester examinations which were slated to begin yesterday to Saturday following numerous complaints from the students’ Guild Council.
Mr Julius Kateregga, the guild president, asked the university management to postpone the exams to allow students prepare enough and clear their pending coursework and tests.

He said the students were disrupted by the lecturers strike at the start of the semester, adding that they deserved to be granted more time to prepare for the exams.
On April 28, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, wrote to students informing them that the university management and guild representatives had agreed to postpone the exams due to the inconveniences which had been caused.

“All exams will commence on May 4 and the exams that were due to take place on the affected days (April 29 to May 3) be reprogrammed by concerned colleges,” the letter reads in part.
Prof Nawangwe instructed college principals to ensure all coursework and tests are completed by Friday, adding that the university will not allow any further extension.
“There will be no extension of the semester dates and the closure date in June is maintained. Therefore, all reschedules of the exams should be done to fit in the original semester calendar and examinations period,” Prof Nawangwe stated.

Meanwhile, the semester of three colleges: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Law and College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security has been extended.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof Umar Kakumba, in an April 25 letter said students in the above colleges received their coursework and tests late and were more affected by the staff strike.
“I would like to emphasise that the Vice Chancellor had earlier written to all colleges, requesting those that needed an extension but only three colleges responded and these were accordingly given a two weeks semester extension approved by Senate and Council,” Mr Kakumba said.

Background
In January, Makerere lecturers went on strike following suspension of the chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association, Dr Deus Kamunyu, the chairperson of Makerere Administrative Staff Association, Mr Bennet Magara, and his secretary general Joseph Kalema. The strike lasted over four weeks and students missed lectures. The three staff have since been reinstated to their offices.

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