Makerere Impasse: Nine Students Suspended

Management of Makerere University has suspended nine students and issued warning letters to 26 others.  

In a statement issued through the university website today, the university made the disciplinary action on students for their alleged involvement in the current strike over the 15% cumulative increase on tuition fees and their subsequent destruction of university and students property as well as injuring their colleagues.    

“In light of the recent student unrests and protests against the Fees Policy, Management has taken disciplinary action against some students. Affected students are requested to collect their letters from the Office of the Dean of Students,” says Makerere in a statement.  

Suspended students are; Frank Bwambale, a Bachelor Journalism and Communication student, Siperia Saasiraabo, Bachelor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Rogers Mbajjo Ssebiraalo, Bachelor of Quantitative Economics, Derrick Ojambo Wabwire, Bachelor of Records and Archives Management and David Musiri, Bachelor Commerce (External).  

Others are; Ivan Kyeyune, a student of Bachelor Arts (Social Sciences), Seiz Mutatina, Bachelor of Commerce, Job Dhabona, a student of Bachelor of Community Psychology and Simon Ssenoga, pursuing a Bachelor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

For the past one week, tempers have been flaring at Makerere University with ugly scenes of police and military breaking into students’ halls of residence in a crack-down of students who have held protests over the increase of fees. 

Students demanded that the university halts the cumulative fees increment, reinstates its suspended colleagues and revise the guild electoral laws among others.  

Those issued warning letters include the Gender and Ethics & Integrity guild Minister, Marion Kirabo and Judith Nalukwago who is also the Vice Guild President.

Others are; Sarah Aminah Namiiro, Mariam Kyomugasho Mugisha, Annah Ashaba,  Rodney Kiggundu, Lydia Omunyokol, Anitah Musiimenta, Peninnah Mwesigwa Balambi,

Pamela Nyangoma, Elith Nabimanya, Benjamin Ahikiriza, Isaiah Sserwadda, Marvin Nyinamanyonyi, Vicent Kayondo, Epaphrus Ouma and Joseph Tumusiime. Also on the list are; Ronald Waswa, Nicky Namisi Babirye, Tyson Mutangana, Derrick Agaba, Erasmus Oreret, Edgar Ayebazibwe and Elvis Omoit, the chairperson of Lumumba Hall.

Meanwhile, two masters’ students have also received warning letters. They are Allan Mutagubya pursuing a Master of Science in Zoology and Lukman Bukenya pursuing a Master of Science in Data Communication and Software Engineering.  

At an emergency council meeting of the University Council, a supreme governing body of the university held on Tuesday the members dialogued with student leaders who included the guild president, his vice, the Guild speaker and the deputy and other members of the Guild Cabinet and representatives of the Council of Hall Chairpersons.  

In the 11-hour-long meeting, council said it was conscious of the financial requirements to run the university alongside the economic circumstances in the country.

But insisted that even with the implementation of the current fees structure, the fees charged by Makerere University remained below the unit cost and fees charged by other sister public universities in the region.

“Revisiting the fees structure has significant implications on the financial status of the university and the ability of the University to continue providing services,” said Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council.    

Whereas the students had demanded that their suspended colleagues be reinstated and the warning letters for others withdrawn, the council resolved that they were given at the level of university management and the university needed to provide details of each suspended student including reasons for and duration of the suspension.  

“The four cases of suspended students be handled by the Student Disciplinary Committee within a period of two weeks,” says council.  

Suspended students to be allowed to sit exams  

At the university council meeting yesterday, council resolved that all suspended students be allowed to sit examinations in case the Students Disciplinary Committee has not concluded their matters before the examination period.  

“Management should provide mechanisms for suspended students to undergo progressive assessments including tests and coursework assignments where applicable,” says University Council.  

Adding that; “The 28 students who were warned and wish to contest their warning may appeal to management to review. Management must conclude such appeals within one week.”