Professor Eli Katunguka’s recent memo on the tuition fee hike at Kyambogo University is a brazen display of deceit and a flagrant disregard for the students’ welfare. His condescending tone and faux transparency are an affront to every student who is already struggling financially. This isn’t a mere adjustment; it’s a premeditated exploitation orchestrated by an arrogant leader who appears to revel in his unchecked authority.
Katunguka’s memo, issued on July 25, 2024, was a cynical attempt to stifle the backlash following Guild President H.E. Mwebesa Reagan’s outspoken letter dated July 23, 2024. Reagan’s letter, which courageously challenged the university’s underhanded tactics, was met with Katunguka’s patronizing dismissal. This response is nothing short of an insult, attempting to belittle genuine student grievances with a façade of false transparency.
The Vice Chancellor’s justification for the fee increase – a so-called “broader review of university programmes and the introduction of new ones” – is a smokescreen of the highest order. The assertion that the fee hike stems from proposals by Faculties and Schools, supposedly “thoroughly discussed and approved by the University Council,” is laughable. If these discussions happened, they were mere formalities, conducted in isolation from the real concerns and financial struggles of the students.
Katunguka’s claim that the fee changes are “moderate” and impact only specific faculties like the School of Management and Entrepreneurship and the Built Environment is an absurd attempt to downplay the true impact of this draconian measure. The term “moderate” is a convenient euphemism designed to obscure the significant financial strain being imposed on incoming students. It’s a classic case of presenting a predatory fee hike as a harmless adjustment.
The assertion that these changes, effective from the 2024/2025 academic year, will only affect first-year students is a strategic ploy to undermine unity among the student body. By sparing continuing students from immediate hikes, Katunguka aims to pacify the current population while trapping new students in a financial quagmire. This tactic is manipulative and underhanded, designed to minimize resistance while securing increased revenue from unsuspecting freshmen.
Katunguka’s claim of transparent decision-making, with student representatives including the Guild President supposedly present during the Council and Senate meetings, is an outright lie. If genuine student involvement had occurred, why did the Guild President feel the need to write a letter of protest? The reality is clear – any student participation was a mere charade, a superficial attempt to lend a veneer of legitimacy to a fundamentally autocratic process.
Katunguka’s call for student leaders to “engage management to find a lasting solution to any issues affecting students’ welfare” is utterly laughable. This is the same administration that has repeatedly shown it prioritizes financial gain over student welfare. Katunguka’s assurances that teaching and learning will continue uninterrupted are meaningless platitudes from a man completely detached from the financial realities faced by students.
The Vice Chancellor’s remarks about maintaining peace and stability on campus are nothing more than veiled threats. The actions of his administration make it clear that dissent will not be tolerated, and any attempt to challenge this exploitative fee increase will be met with severe repercussions. This is not a commitment to peace; it is a stark warning to students to conform or face punitive measures.
In essence, Katunguka’s leadership is a textbook example of arrogance, manipulation, and a complete disregard for the student body’s struggles. His administration’s drive for financial gain at the expense of students’ futures represents a betrayal of the core values that a university should uphold. Under Katunguka’s rule, Kyambogo University has become a cesspool of exploitation, where students are treated as mere cash cows rather than individuals with aspirations.
It is imperative that the student body rises up and demands accountability. Katunguka must be held responsible for his actions, and the university’s exploitative policies must be overturned. The student leaders, spearheaded by Guild President Mwebesa Reagan, must persist in their fight against this oppressive regime. The future of Kyambogo University hinges on the collective resolve and tenacity of its students to challenge and dismantle this unjust system.
Professor Eli Katunguka’s handling of the tuition fee increase is a masterclass in deceit and exploitation. His administration’s actions are a direct assault on the student body, and his attempts to justify and downplay the fee hike are contemptible. Kyambogo University deserves a leader who prioritizes the welfare of its students over financial gain, and it is high time for a new era of genuine transparency and fairness.
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