On Thursday, March 13, 2014, the Kyambogo University Council approved the Financial Management Manual, which was later amended on June 2, 2021, to streamline tuition fee payments and the subsequent planning and management of university operations. The policy states that all students must pay 100% of their fees by the end of the sixth week for those who joined the university before 2021, before the amendment of the manual. Those who joined after the amendment must pay 100% of all fees within eight weeks (two months after the beginning of the semester). A semester is seventeen weeks long, two of which are designated for exams.
Any student who fails to pay full university fees and register within the sixth or eighth week will incur a penalty fee called the late payment fee of UGX 50,000. Furthermore, any student who, by the end of the sixth or eighth week of a seventeen-week semester, has paid at least 50% of all the fees must ensure payment of all fees by the tenth week of that semester to avoid missing the end-of-semester exams. This policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate students.
Students have up to twelve weeks out of a total of seventeen to fulfil their financial obligations. Out of the five weeks remaining, two are reserved for exams. When do students plan to pay if they haven’t settled their dues three weeks before the exams? For example, for a Diploma in Sign Language Interpretation, where the guild president is a student, students pay UGX 350,000 tuition fees plus a functional fee of 497,000, totalling 847,000. The policy requires them to pay this amount by the twelfth week. Kyambogo University has kept its fees as low as possible. The university management has repeatedly resisted the temptation to increase fees to ensure quality education for most Ugandans.
So, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, some students, led by Mr. Akiso Benjamin, the guild president, organised a demonstration demanding that the university waive late registration fees (surcharge) and allow students who have paid at least 70% of their tuition to sit for end-of-semester exams. First, this university council decision cannot be amended in a week. Secondly, this policy has existed for over ten years, has been operational, and cannot simply be wished away. Because his request was not addressed within his one-week ultimatum, he led students who moved from one lecture room to another, beating and forcing students out and compelling them to join, threatening everyone and attracting the attention of law enforcement. This is a busy period, with one week remaining for students to write their exams. Some are paying fees, others are completing coursework, others are writing tests, and generally preparing for exams. Staff members also prepare marks, procure exam materials, and get ready. This is not the time for disruptions and diversions.
Furthermore, the nature of these demonstrations is not entirely genuine. For instance, in this specific demonstration, of the seventeen students suspended, six are government-aided students. Some others have paid their fees, while others can pay, yet they still relish the thrill of participating in the demonstrations. Additionally, some students misuse their fees, intending to pay as the semester progresses. Ultimately, they fail to do so, and as a way to buy time and cope, they engage in these demonstrations. To rationalise their actions, they compel everyone to take their side. Therefore, guidance on payment deadlines and dates is needed.
Most students want to study and do their best to fulfil all the requirements while focusing on completion. Such students need an enabling environment to study, progress, and complete their work, allowing them to write tests and coursework without disruption. Academic and administrative staff also require this environment to serve students and the country. Given this responsibility, Top Management held a meeting on Monday, 28th April 2025, and discussed the alleged misconduct of students who demonstrated and disrupted university operations on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025.
Following Regulation 40 of the Kyambogo University Students’ Regulations, Top Management has decided to suspend these students from Kyambogo University for one month, effective Tuesday, 29th April 2025, pending a formal hearing before the Students’ Affairs and Welfare Committee.
This is a call to students to recognise that universities operate based on policies and guidelines, rather than simply adhering to stakeholder demands. Students are involved in the formulation of these policies and guidelines. During the final stage of Council approval, the guild president and their nominee are present as council members. This process does not change overnight. Additionally, while expressing opinions, allowing participants to do so of their own accord is crucial, rather than under coercion. If the cause is genuine, students will join willingly.
Below is a list of the students suspended by the university.
Tags: academic disruptions, fee payment deadline, guild president, Kyambogo University, late registration fee, student affairs, student demonstrations, student protests, tuition policy, Uganda higher education, Ugandan universities, university fees, university policy enforcement, university regulations