A letter dated September 10, 2024, from the Dean of Students, Winifred Kabumbuli, explained that the policy was temporarily deferred during the lockdown, leading to significant student debt and impacting the delivery of essential services:
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Proffesor Nawangwe
Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest academic institution, is experiencing unrest due to the contentious 2026 tuition policy. Recent actions by the University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, have escalated the situation.
Over the past few days, Nawangwe has issued more than three warning letters and suspended one student for allegedly planning a demonstration against the policy. In his letters, Nawangwe alleged that on September 9, 2024, around 1:00 a.m., certain students, including Daisy Adiru, were involved in planning and mobilizing their peers for a demonstration against the university's fees policy. The warning letter issued to Adiru, a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery student, stated:
“You Ms. Adiru, in the company of other students yet to be identified, participated in planning and mobilizing your fellow students to [participate in acts that are disruptive. The acts allegedly committed include organizing to hold a demonstration against the University fees policy and inciting other students for unlawful action.”
The letter continued “I hereby serve you the first and final warning against such mischievous behavior and you are advised to adhere to the policy guidelines regulating student conduct while at the University strictly, failure of which may result in further corrective action up to and including dismissal.”
Martin Oteba, a student from the College of Computing and Information Sciences, was suspended for similar reasons. His suspension letter reads “Because of your involvement in the above offensive acts, and to ensure the security of our students, I hereby suspend you from Makerere University with immediate effect until further notice.”
The letter also stated, “After investigations are completed, you will be invited to appear before a disciplinary hearing on a date to be communicated to you in due course.” Students who spoke to URN on the condition of anonymity attributed the unrest to the tuition policy reinstated by the University Council. This policy, initially passed in 2016 and suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, has now returned.
A letter dated September 10, 2024, from the Dean of Students, Winifred Kabumbuli, explained that the policy was temporarily deferred during the lockdown, leading to significant student debt and impacting the delivery of essential services: “This policy was temporarily deferred during the lockdown which led to a significant accumulation of student debt, which impacted the delivery of essential teaching and learning services.”
In response to student concerns, the Guild President requested an extension for the first installment of fee payments. The University granted a one-month extension, from August 30 to September 30, 2024, and imposed a surcharge of 20,000 shillings on late payments.
The policy mandates that “All functional fees and 60% of tuition fees for the new joining students must be paid before the admission letter is issued” (Section 2a(ii)), and “Every continuing student is expected to pay fees due on the first day of a semester” (Section 2b). However, the University has provided alternatives up to the 12th week, subject to surcharges as guided by the University Council.
In response to the suspension and warning letters, Guild President Lubega Nsamba condemned the Vice-Chancellor’s actions. He argued that students were being treated as guilty without due process and called for a retraction of the letters until sufficient evidence could be provided:
"I condemn the unfair treatment these members have been subjected to by treating them guilty before being proven so. We also ask you to expound on these allegations and clarify when and where such a meeting happened. Some of the members you allege were not on campus premises on that day at 1:00 a.m. As the law dictates, he who alleges must prove.”
“Against this background, we call for retraction of these letters until you have gathered enough evidence to incriminate these individuals. We urge you to incorporate rules of natural justice as you make such decisions going forward,” Nsamba’s letter stated.
