Makerere University in Uganda has decided to extend the registration deadline for the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic year. The extension, granted by the Academic Registrar’s Office, now sets the new deadline for registration on November 1st, 2023. This decision comes as a response to multiple appeals from students who were facing challenges in meeting the initial deadline.
The primary goal of this extension is to provide students with ample time to complete their registration requirements. The university decided to reconsider the initial deadline due to concerns raised by students who were unable to secure sufficient funds to cover the mandatory 60% tuition payment.
In a statement dated September 29, 2023, Mukadasi Buyinza, the academic registrar, clarified that once students complete their registration, they will have access to print essential documents such as financial statements and examination permits. These documents are vital for participating in the upcoming examinations during the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic year.
Many first-year students interviewed expressed their anxieties about not receiving financial support from their guardians, putting them at risk of missing the registration deadline. According to Makerere University’s tuition policy, privately sponsored students are required to pay 60% of their tuition fees at the beginning of each semester, along with full functional fees at the start of the first semester.
The policy further stipulates that all students must have paid 100% of their tuition fees by the end of the 6th week of the semester. This posed a significant challenge for students who had not met these payment requirements, jeopardizing their university registration. Kevin Mugabi, Guild Information minister, revealed that a substantial number of students sought assistance from their student leaders, urging the Academic Registrar to extend the registration deadline.
Many students found it challenging to gather the necessary tuition funds within the limited timeframe of six weeks, which put their academic enrollment at risk. Mugabi explained that failing to complete the registration process would result in these students not being officially recognized by the university. Their essential personal information would not be uploaded to the university system, rendering them ineligible to take their examinations, as they would be unable to print the required examination permits.
