The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth Oboth, has expressed surprise after learning that Makerere University stopped providing meals to students in June 2018.

The Speaker was informed about the situation by Makerere University student leaders led by their Speaker, Trevis Mutatiina Muhwezi, who said the cost of feeding has become a major challenge for students.

Mutatiina told Oboth Oboth that government-sponsored students currently receive a daily meal allowance of Shs4,500, comprising Shs500 for breakfast, Shs2,000 for lunch and another Shs2,000 for supper.

He said the allowance is inadequate, particularly given the rising cost of food in Kampala.

Mutatiina also claimed that government-sponsored students in other parts of the country receive higher meal allowances than their counterparts in Kampala, despite the relatively high cost of living in the capital.

He led the students in appealing to the government to increase the meal allowance or provide sufficient funding to cover at least one meal per day.

In response, Speaker Oboth Oboth promised to raise the students’ concerns with the Parliamentary Committee on Education for further consideration and action.

Meanwhile, students also raised concerns about accommodation at the university.

Female students called for the construction of an additional hostel within Makerere University, saying the limited accommodation forces some students to make long journeys between the university and their places of residence, which they said exposes them to safety risks.

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