By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The management of Makerere University seems to have resorted to playing monkey tricks with students who are protesting the 15% tuition increment that sparked off strikes last week, which have since lasted over a week now.
During a lengthy meeting held Tuesday between the MAK University Management and the Students Guild Council Representatives, the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Umar Kakumba revealed that Management had resolved to scrap the 15% increment on Functional Fees, but retained it on Tuition fees and that this only applies to continuing students.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the MAK University Management revealed in a statement that further implementation of the fees structure that was passed in July 2018 which involved 15% adjustment in fees is halted.
The Council also accepted to degazette the new students’ Constitution reforms and also revoked the suspensions and warning letters that were issued out to students who participated in the protests.
However, the students led by their Guild President Julius Kateregga trashed the Management decision and vowed to continue with the strikes until the University Management agrees to their demand of scrapping off the 15% increment.
Kateregga told Spy Uganda that “We did not protest the 15% increment of Functional fees. Our protests are aimed at making Management know that we cannot afford the 15% increment, whether it is on tuition fees or functional fees. By the way for your own information, the 15% increment announced by the University not only applies to Tuition and Functional fees but also other charges we incur at the institution, including registration, exams, research, etc. We want it scrapped immediately, or else we shall not stop the protests.”
Meanwhile, we have since established that president Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday afternoon called Kateregga on phone as requested him to urge students to cease fire and halt the protests. It is said that during the phone call, Museveni also assured Kateregga that he had ordered the Military to vacate Makerere university with immediate effect.
But Kateregga insists that unless the University accepts to rescind their decision and officially writes to the Guild Council about their decision, the students will not stop the protests.
