Forum for Democratic Change Plans to meet Makerere University over Tuition Increment

Leading opposition party in Uganda, The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leadership has vowed to meet Makerere University’s top administrators over the 15% tuition increment that has caused chaos in the University.

Speaking to journalists on Monday at their headquarters in Najjanakumbi, the party president Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat said that the decision to increase the tuition by 15% was rushed.

“The tuition policy which required consultations from the students who are the key stakeholders at the university was rushed,” Mr Amuriat said adding that the party leadership is planning to meet Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the University Vice Chancellor to broker truce between the students and the university.

Makerere University Council this year in July increased tuition for all major programmes by 15 percent accumulative every year for five years.

Makerere University recently suspended a number of students and instructed the Chief Security Officer to ensure they vacate the university premises immediately after their angry protests.

Suspended students include Mr Johnson Emmanuel Obbo, a student of Bachelor of Arts in Education, Frank Bwambale a student of Journalism and Communication and David Musiri a student of Bachelor of Office and Information Management.

According to a suspension letter to Mr Bwambale, one of the suspended students, Prof Nawangwe noted, “I have received a report that you are alleged to be authoring several anonymous messages on social media platforms as ‘Young Thug’ with the aim of hurting both the university image, bringing university management and fellow student leaders of the 84th students Guild Council (with whom you serve as GRC member) into dispute. These actions are in breach of university policies and other national laws and give rise to both criminal and civil liability on your part.”

Others suspended without being given a hearing by the university disciplinary committee include Mr Jobs Dhabona of School of Psychology, Mr Daniel Kituno, Bachelor of Commerce External and Mr Samuel Kigula of School of Medicine.