Violence Erupts at Kyambogo University as Students Protest Tuition Surcharge

Tension escalated at Kyambogo University on Tuesday morning as students staged a protest against a Shs 50,000 surcharge imposed by the administration for late tuition registration.

What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly spiraled into chaos when police fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the crowd, leaving students and staff in panic.

The protest was organized by Guild President Akiso Benjamin, who voiced concerns over the financial burden the surcharge places on students.

“We are not refusing to pay,” said one student during the protest, “We’re just asking for compassion and more time.” The surcharge affects students who fail to register within the university’s six-week deadline, a policy that many argue disproportionately impacts students from low-income families.

Students also voiced opposition to a policy barring those with outstanding tuition balances from sitting for end-of-semester exams, a rule they called “too harsh” given the widespread financial struggles in Uganda.

“How can you lock someone out of exams after they’ve attended classes all semester just because they couldn’t pay in time?” questioned one protester.

The situation worsened when officers from the Uganda Police Force’s Field Force Unit (FFU) arrived to disperse the crowd.

Eyewitnesses reported that teargas was deployed and live ammunition fired into the air, triggering a stampede as students sought refuge in nearby buildings.

Several social media videos showed police using force against unarmed students, fuelling public outrage and drawing criticism of the heavy-handed response.

Guild President Akiso condemned the police action as “unnecessary and excessive,” calling for dialogue between the administration and the students.

“We are ready to engage the university in discussions. Students deserve to be heard, not silenced with teargas,” Akiso said following the clashes.

As of late morning, calm was restored, though the atmosphere on campus remained tense. University officials have yet to issue a formal statement, though sources indicated that an emergency meeting may be convened to address the protest.

With the end of the semester approaching, many students are left uncertain about their ability to sit for exams or continue their studies, fearing the financial barrier will prevent them from graduating.

One final-year student summed up the sentiment of many: “We want to study, we want to graduate, but we also want to be treated with dignity. This is our future we’re fighting for.”

We are not refusing to pay,” said one student during the protest, “We’re just asking for compassion and more time.” The surcharge affects students who fail to register within the university’s six-week deadline, a policy that many argue disproportionately impacts students from low-income families