UGANDA: Government universities raise fees by 40%

All public universities in Uganda have increased tuition fees by 40%, reports Conan Businge for New Vision. The new fees apply to private students enrolling this academic year. The last time public universities increased fees was in 1991.

The universities of Makerere, Kyambogo, Mbarara, Busitema and Gulu have all increased fees. Public universities' councils are allowed to set new fees provided they get approval from the Government.

Higher Education Minister Rukutana Mwesigwa justified the increase by pointing to cumulative inflation over the past two decades. "It was inevitable for the government to approve the councils' requests," he said. "We blocked fees increment in the past. But it was not possible to effectively run these universities on the same fees. We need quality education and that calls for more investments."
Full report on The New Vision site