Students at Makerere University in Uganda are celebrating after the institution’s administration waived late payment penalties for the current semester. The decision was made following a request from the Students’ Academic Minister and was approved by the Central Management Committee.
In a letter dated May 8, Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, announced that all surcharges accruing from the late payment of fees for semester two of the academic year 2022/2023 are suspended with immediate effect. The decision was made due to financial hardship faced by students, as well as the challenges posed by peak hour overload on the academic information management system.
Previously, each student who did not pay at least Shs. 200,000 for continuing students and 60% for the freshers in the first two weeks after reporting to the university before registration was required to pay a surcharge of Shs. 50,000. With the suspension of these surcharges, students will no longer be penalized for late payment.
In addition to suspending surcharges, the university administration also extended the deadline for students’ registration from May 12 to May 26. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this extension to avoid any inconvenience.
The decision by Makerere University’s administration to suspend surcharges has been welcomed by students, who have expressed their relief on social media. Many students have been struggling to pay fees due to financial constraints, and the suspension of surcharges will ease the burden on them.
The announcement comes just before students are set to commence their semester two final exams for the 2022/2023 academic year on May 29. The suspension of surcharges will allow students to focus on their exams without the added stress of late payment penalties.
The move by Makerere University’s administration to suspend surcharges is a positive step towards supporting students during these challenging times. It is important for institutions to recognize the financial difficulties faced by students and to provide support where possible. The decision will not only benefit the students but also promote a positive relationship between the institution and its students.
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