Several government sponsored students at Makerere University risk starvation if the university authorities do not reverse their decision to outsource meals.
Effective next semester, each government sponsored student will be given 2,000 shillings per day as food allowance.
But with the rising cost of food, the decision to provide only 2000 shillings is seen as unrealistic. Some students have complained that the money cannot even buy them three meals a day from the cheapest eating joints at the university popularly known as Kikumi kikumi.
Immaculate Asiimwe, a second year student of Library and Information Science, says that even with a strict budget, she spends more than 2,000 shillings daily on her meals at the cheapest eating joints.
//Cue in: iYou'll have to eat#
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The new decision could also affect the privately sponsored students. Many private sponsored students residing in the university halls have been paying to have their meals at their halls of residence.
Robert Okware, the university Guild President says that the proposed policy might encourage some students to resort to cooking from their rooms, which puts their lives and property in danger.
//Cue in: iIf people begin to cook#
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Moses Kityo, a resident in Nsibirwa Hall says that in addition to proposed monies being insufficient, outsourcing meals will also be a big inconvenience to students.
//Cue in: iFood is always served#
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Venansio Barisigara, a second year student of Education found having posho, a finger of matooke and G-nut paste at one of the improvised plywood said he was cutting back on his expenditure.
Barisigara told URN that he had missed a drink today, because he had only 400 UShs to spare for lunch. On average, Barisigara says that he spends close to 3000 shillings on his meals.
Of the 33,488 students who reside in the 11 halls of residence at the University, about half have been having their meals at their halls of residence.
Makerere University public relations officer Gilbert Kadilo, says that the policy to out source meals emerged after it was realized many students were not getting their meals at their hall of residence.
However Gerald Muhangi, the head cook at Nkrumah Hall, says that about 80 percent of the students entitled to meals actually pick their food.
Meanwhile, the staff in the hall kitchens, who earn about 200,000UShs per month from cooking for and serving the students, is also worried for their jobs.
Aisha Nalika, a cook at Nkrumah hall, says they hear rumors about the proposed policy, but they haven't been given any formal notice concerning their fate.
