Over 700 State House-sponsored students of Kampala International University (KIU) western campus in Bushenyi district have been stopped from sitting for exams.

State House Uganda

This follows failure by State House to clear the outstanding debts with the university. The affected students are those pursuing bachelor of medicine and surgery right from first year to the fifth year.

According to a circular dated August 31, 2012 addressed to the dean bio-medicals and dean of clinical medicine and dentistry, the university has also withheld examination results of the affected students.

The circular was signed by Kessio Lois Jelimo, the associate director of finance.

“This is to inform you not to release the results for State House-sponsored students until further communication,” Jelimo stated in a letter.

The students, who turned up on Monday to sit for the exams, were blocked from accessing the examination rooms. The disappointed students later camped in the university compound where they held a meeting and resolved to take up the matter with Parliament.

Some students who talked to New vision on condition of anonymity said the university’s finance office told them that State House owed the institution sh6b.

“I was told that I am required to pay about sh13m to be allowed to continue with my studies,” said a third-year student on condition of anonymity.

The university has also warned the students that whoever has not paid up by today will be asked to apply for a dead semester or be discontinued.

The university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Dr. Yusuf Sadiq, said: “This is a policy issue affecting all the students. We are not targeting State House.” sponsored students.”

By Chris Mugasha, The New Vision