(Kampala) – Makerere University students recently staged a peaceful protest, urgently calling for the release of long-awaited funds intended for their sustenance. The protest highlighted a dire situation, with students reporting harrowing accounts of hunger, poverty, and, in some cases, the tragic loss of life due to starvation.
Demonstrating students shared accounts of classmates who, without access to basic necessities, have struggled to survive. Some have reportedly lost their lives as a result of prolonged hunger. Many others find themselves without a roof over their heads, forced to sleep on the streets due to delays in receiving financial support meant to address their living costs.
In a powerful display of solidarity, activists and advocates quickly turned to social media, rallying support for the students. Martin Ssempa, a prominent activist and pastor, openly criticized Makerere University’s administration and Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, arguing that the institution’s response to the crisis reflects a severe failure in student welfare management. Ssempa condemned the administration’s decision to suspend three students who had publicly questioned the Vice Chancellor on these issues, calling the suspension “an ineffective solution to a humanitarian crisis.”
The protest also shed light on deep-seated criticisms of a broader governmental approach to university funding. Ssempa pointed out that the 34 year policy supported by the World Bank, which encouraged universities to operate more as private entities, has exacerbated economic hardship among students. He referred to this shift as a “deceptive privatization” that disregards the well-being of students, creating a landscape where institutions prioritize infrastructure development over urgent student needs.
The ongoing crisis has been the subject of widespread media and social media attention. Many online commentators argue that the university’s budget priorities—such as allocating eight billion Ugandan Shillings for repairs and security enhancements rather than addressing student welfare—demonstrate a concerning misallocation of resources. Critics like Ssempa questioned why substantial funds were allocated to campus improvements while students reportedly face starvation.
Despite these criticisms, the university administration has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the hunger crisis. Prof. Nawangwe initially dismissed the student protests, claiming that the hunger issue is not a crisis and even questioning whether those going hungry are indeed students. His comments, which many perceived as insensitive, have led to further public outcry and frustration among both students and supporters.
Several commentators, including student advocates, voiced disappointment with what they perceive as the Vice Chancellor’s lack of empathy. Social media users called on prominent organizations such as the Mastercard Foundation and international media outlets like BBC and Al Jazeera to shed light on the plight of Makerere University students, hoping to rally support for emergency relief and long-term solutions.
Video – Hunger Crisis at Makerere: Calls for Urgent Action
Video – Students Protest Hunger and Hardship at Makerere
