By Kyambogo University has suspended 17 students following a protest that disrupted campus operations on April 23, 2025. The students, who are accused of spearheading the demonstration, will remain suspended for one month pending a disciplinary hearing before the university’s Students’ Affairs and Welfare Committee.
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The protest reportedly began as a peaceful march but quickly escalated when demonstrators blocked access to key administrative buildings. This brought lectures and office operations to a standstill and prompted swift action from university authorities, who cited Regulation 40 of the institution’s Students’ Regulations, which prohibits any acts that interfere with institutional functioning. The students involved come from a broad range of faculties including Social Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, and Education.
Among those suspended are Owor John Masanja, a student of Economics and Statistics; Mwesigwa Timothy, pursuing Development Studies; Kiptoo Ian Cheywa, studying Vocational Agriculture with Education; Akiso Benjamin, enrolled in Sign Language Interpreting; and Awaye Nickson from Building Economics. The full list reveals widespread participation across disciplines, highlighting the depth of student dissatisfaction.
In a statement issued by the administration, the university acknowledged student grievances but reaffirmed that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. “While on suspension, these students should not appear on the university premises,” the notice read. University leadership insists that while dialogue remains open, adherence to institutional order must be upheld.
Several students, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration at the disciplinary measures. They argued that the protests were the result of protracted silence from management on critical issues, particularly tuition hikes and delayed allowances. “We’ve been raising these issues for months with no response,” said one student.
The protest is rooted in long-standing concerns over tuition fees. In mid-2024, Kyambogo announced a 50% fee increment for selected programs, including those under the School of Management and Entrepreneurship and the School of Built Environment. Students accused the administration of introducing the fees without consultation. In response, Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka downplayed the outcry, insisting that the increases only affected a few programs and were far lower than claimed.
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The tension was further inflamed by delays in the disbursement of government allowances to sponsored students. Typically, the government pays Shs476,000 per semester to students residing in university halls and Shs733,000 to those in hostels. However, delayed payments have left many struggling to meet daily needs, fueling resentment and contributing to the protest.
University officials have promised to engage students on these concerns but emphasized that future demonstrations must be conducted within the bounds of the law. The suspended students await a formal disciplinary process that will determine their fate in the coming weeks.
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