Government-sponsored students at Makerere University are demanding the immediate release of their overdue living-out allowances. On Wednesday, the students stormed the ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, seeking answers on the delayed payments.
This protest followed a message from Makerere’s dean of students, Winfred Kabumbuli, indicating that a reduction in the university’s budget by the government had disrupted operations, including the disbursement of student allowances. The delay comes just weeks before the end of the semester, leaving many students financially strained.
Led by Lillian Akello, president of the Makerere University Government-Sponsored Students, the group met with state minister of Finance Henry Musasizi, who acknowledged the delay but assured students that funds would be released within two weeks.
Throughout the week, students have voiced the hardships they’re facing, with some seeking food donations to assist vulnerable students, particularly female students reportedly struggling with hunger. Additional grievances include a prohibition on cooking in residence halls and the removal of low-cost food vendors from campus.
However, Kabumbuli clarified in a statement that cooking in halls is restricted to ensure safety and that food vendors had not been banned but rather reorganized to improve service.
Isaac Ndyabahika, a fourth-year urban and regional planning student and former president of the Government-Sponsored Students Association, emphasized that government-sponsored students are particularly affected by these delays as they rely heavily on the allowance, receiving Shs 760,000 per semester if they live off-campus or Shs 530,000 if in halls of residence.
However, continuing non-resident students have received only Shs 446,000, while first-year students were given just Shs 300,000. Resident students received Shs 93,000 for food, amounts that many say are inadequate for basic needs.
These financial challenges have left students facing hunger in residence halls and eviction due to unpaid rent. Makerere University has a history of student protests over delayed allowances, with students increasingly advocating for an update to the allowance rates set two decades ago.
