MAKERERE SPLITS FEES PAYMENT

MAKERERE SPLITS FEES PAYMENT

By Robert OwinyFriday 12/9/2008

The issue of fees payments at Makerere University is developing into a big and complex question. Apart from hiking what students must pay this academic year, the University has created new Bank accounts for the payment of the various fees type.

In a circular the University bursar Ben Byambabazi directed students to use three separate accounts in fees clearance.

A source in the accounts department who preferred anonymity said the new system was meant for the first year students only, adding that the continuing students are ignorantly following it.

Previously every fees payment would go into one account, this year two separate bank accounts have been created for the payment of functional fees, and accommodation fees differently. Only tuition fees are to be paid in the old account.

The University Guild president Robert Rutaro noted that this decision is exploitative since students end up paying more money for Bank charges yet the amount of functional fees have also been increased.

“This is very unfortunate; the university administration is imposing more cost on students without clear justification. It is really inconveniencing especially to the private sponsored students” Rutaro said.

However the University Senior Public Relations Officer Gilbert Kadilo dismissed this complain by calling it “a normal institutional accounts procedure”.