A directive from President Yoweri Museveni that international students should pay the same fees as local students in all public universities has not yet been implemented.
Matthew Rukikaire, chairperson of the Makerere University Council, says the university is waiting for direction from the Ministry of Education on how to incorporate the directive. He says its implementation will have major financial implications, which must be deliberated on before the President's directive can be enforced.
President Museveni's order was the result of numerous complaints by international students that they were being charged exorbitant amounts of money and yet they received the same service as Ugandan students. International students pay up to twice the amount of fees paid by Ugandan students.
Aggrey Kibenge, the Ministry of Education spokesperson, says the Ministry is still discussing how the directive. He could not commit himself to a comment on the progress of the deliberations, but said the State Minister for Higher Education is committed to concluding discussions soon.
The Makerere University econd semester starts in February 2009.
