Student leaders at Makerere University, led by Guild President Robert Maseruka, have launched a campaign called “Save a Makererean.” Their goal is to raise one billion Ugandan Shillings to assist financially disadvantaged students who are at risk of dropping out due to tuition fees. Maseruka made this announcement during a press conference at Freedom Square in Kampala.
According to Maseruka, approximately 1,000 students at Makerere University drop out each academic year due to difficulties in covering their tuition fees. In the previous semester, nearly 3,000 students were unable to take their end-of-semester exams because they couldn’t pay their tuition fees. Tuition fees at Makerere University vary depending on the academic program, with fees ranging from 900,000 to 2.5 million Shillings, excluding additional functional fees that total over 600,000 Shillings.
These figures align with statements made by Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, earlier in the year. He confirmed that the university consistently loses at least 1,000 students each academic year due to their inability to meet tuition expenses. In response to this issue, students have initiated a fundraising campaign with the ambitious target of raising one billion Shillings to support those on the brink of dropping out. Maseruka mentioned their plans to seek funding from civil societies, non-governmental organizations, Members of Parliament, and influential community members.
Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, the Makerere University Academic Registrar, noted that the university has approved an “employment students work scheme” to provide financial relief. Under this scheme, students engage in community service within the university, and the earnings are used to cover their tuition fees.
According to Makerere University’s tuition policy, privately sponsored students are required to pay a minimum of 60% of their tuition at the beginning of each semester and full functional fees at the start of the first semester. The policy also states that all students should have paid 100% of their tuition by the end of the sixth week of the semester. Students who fail to meet this requirement may appeal to the Vice-Chancellor for special permission to sit exams, but such permission is not guaranteed.
Mariat Namiiro, the Vice Guild President, pointed out that some female students have resorted to prostitution to raise funds for tuition fees due to their financial struggles. She expressed hope that the fundraising campaign would alleviate this dire situation.
For an extended period, privately sponsored students, not only at Makerere University but also at other higher education institutions, have faced challenges related to tuition fees at the beginning, middle, or end of the semester. Some students have organized fundraisers within their classes, while others have applied for financial aid, often without success.
Last year, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, initiated a debate regarding the government sponsorship process, arguing that it favored wealthier students who attended expensive schools and attained government sponsorship cut-off points.
