Legislators say no to the removal of Makerere University 15 per cent tuition increment policy
Legislators sitting on the parliamentary committee of rules and laws have shunned the removal of the 15% tuition increment policy at Makerere University adding it was inevitable.
This arises following the recent October strike at the University that involved students protesting against the 15% tuition increment policy that they believe was signed without their proper consent.
Students are demanding the University to consider revising the policy they termed as unfair and a big hindrance not only to their parents but also to those on who have to toil hard to pay their tuition.
On 29th October 2019, the University Council held an emergency meeting and decided to halt any further increment on functional fees, but kept the 15% increase on tuition fees for the next three years.
This decision was not acceptable to a section of the students and a few of them days later continued rioting demanding the same to be done to tuition.
This prompted the Parliament disciplinary committee to invite the Vice-Chancellor to discuss not only the causes of the strike then but also other problems affecting the University.
However, in a meeting held yesterday on 11th December 2019, by the Laws Committee led by Hon Jacob Opolot, it was confirmed that there are no plans to revise the policy.
The legislators insisted that the 15% tuition increment will stand because it was already included in the Makerere University budget which the same parliamentary Committee had approved earlier.
According to the Committee, in case they are to revise and suspend the policy then the institution’s budget execution also has to be distorted.
Also, they implied that the University was spending more than it’s earnings and capacity something that in recent years was affecting the quality of service delivery at the institution.
Meanwhile, MP Zaake’s case with the University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe is still on the disciplinary committee cards.
The last sitting ended in a disappointed as there was a lack of CCTV camera footage to give a clear picture of what transpired then.
According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the legislator acted hostile towards him verbally during his first meeting with Parliament and as he exited the house.
Nawangwe says that Zaake also went beyond intimidating him to the extent of making personal submissions that did not relate to the subject matter at the time.
“Hon. Zaake hurled insults at me saying that if I did not change my attitude while as the VC, he shall make sure that there are more strikes during my reign. His main reason was to intimidate me throughout the whole session,” Prof. Nawangwe stated earlier.
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By John Dalton Kigozi
