UGANDA: President Museveni Asks Universities to Charge Tuition Fee Equally
His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda has expressed his disappointment over the behaviour of some Vice Chancellors who are levying higher tuition fees on foreign students who are studying in Uganda and appealed to the leadership of public Universities to be just towards all students.
On 9th August 2019, while speaking at the climax of the two days West Nile Investment Symposium held at Muni University in Arua Municipality, President Museveni observed that some public Universities in the country are charging foreign students higher fee than the Ugandan students, which he described as discriminatory and exploitative and therefore should be stopped immediately.
He cited the example of students coming from the neighbouring countries to seek better education in Uganda saying, they are being victimized by the system.
“I was embarrassed when I learnt that some ungodly people in Kampala are charging higher than the Ugandans to fees to students from South Sudan, Congo, Kenya and even from Tanzania: how will you go to Heaven?” he asked.
The President said he is not going to tolerate any University that practice and that all Universities must have uniform tuition fees for all students irrespective of their country of origin.
President Museveni who kept insisting on the matter said that even the private Universities must levy the same tuition fees on both the indigenous and foreign students saying.
He then urged the people of West Nile and Northern Uganda to embrace commercial farming in a move to fight household poverty through wealth creation.
The President said the value of commercial agriculture will help the local population in the region to support their children in school and improve their livelihood.
∽End∽
By Isaac Ojok, St. Mary ́s National Seminary, Ggaba
