By Victor Turinawe
A section of Guild leaders at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono Campus have
committed to giving their top up tuition, to students struggling to complete paying tuition fees.
The leaders pledged their willingness to support struggling students during the two
days leaders’ orientation programme that was held at UCU Mukono Campus for Guild
leaders from both the Mukono and Kampala campuses.
As a privilege, each Guild member is provided with an amount of money by the
administration to top up payment of their tuition. This is the money the leaders have said they will give to students.
During the session on balancing academics and leadership roles, the Acting Principal of
UCU Mbale Campus Dr Vicent Kisenyi encouraged the students to sacrifice.
“Leadership is about sacrifice, do not be greedy when you can afford to help those in
needy,” he said.
It was during that session that five of the leaders announced that they would give up
their top-up tuition.
The five leaders are from the Mukono Campus Guild and include Derrick Kakooza, the
Speaker; Nolan Rugaba, the Member of Parliament, School of Business and Deputy
Minister Internal Affairs; Joseph Kalyango, the Member of Parliament, Residents Male;
Mathew Nfukirani, the Deputy Chairperson Electoral Commission; and Glenn
Kanagulira, the Finance Minister.
The leaders are given different amounts of top-up tuition depending on their duties and
responsibilities. Kakooza receives Shs220,000, Rugaba receives Shs150,000,
Kalyango receives Shs130,000, Nfukirani receives Shs100,000, and Kanagulira
receives Shs180,000. These are the amounts the leaders will sacrifice to help others
pay their tuition fees.
According to the Guild President of the Mukono Campus, Abraham Elomaboni, the
leaders shall provide the money they have agreed to sacrifice, from their own funds,
and thereafter refund themselves after the Guild Government has paid them, in order to avoid fund diversion related problems when it comes to accountability and audits.
