Students of Mbarara University of science and technology MUST have today gone on strike protesting an increment in retake fees to 200,000 shillings.
According to the university administration, every student who fails a paper will now pay 200,000 shillings and if they fail three papers, a student will automatically get a dead year. “Like repeat the year they are in.”
However, students have not taken this lightly claiming it is meant to rob them of their little money by some lecturers who will give them unnecessary retakes just to earn money.
The other contentious issue is the need to have money (460,000 shillings) given to government-sponsored students who do not reside at the university per semester paid out.
The money is meant to cater for meals and accommodation.
The strike has paralysed business at the university since morning and lectures could not go on as they pitched camp at the office of Vice Chancellor Professor Therestine Obua and demanded for an explanation from him, but in vain.
Professor Obua however, locked himself in the office and declined to meet the striking students.
The Mbarara district police commander Jaffar Magyezi attempted to speak to the angry students but they gave them no ear.