KAMPALA
Kampala International University (KIU) is facing public criticism following complaints from students over what many have described as “unfair and painful” late payment surcharges.
The uproar was triggered by a post on X (formerly Twitter) by cartoonist Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, who shared a circular from the university’s Director of Finance detailing penalties for delayed fee payments for students of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry (BMS 5.1) at the Western Campus.
According to the Special Academic Bulletin issued by KIU, students who fail to clear their university dues within 45 days from the reporting date are required to pay UGX 60,000 (or USD 30 for international students) every two weeks as a fine until the arrears are settled. Those who sit for exams without clearing fees risk an additional 25% surcharge on the outstanding balance and possible disciplinary action.
The bulletin further requires students to pay at least UGX 200,000 by July 21, 2025, to avoid a late registration penalty of UGX 20,000, and to have cleared 50% of the semester’s fees before Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs).
However, students and alumni have taken to X to denounce the policy, describing it as exploitative and insensitive to the financial struggles of learners.
“These charges are painful. When 45 days elapse and the university is still demanding us more than 100k, they keep adding 60k every two weeks. The money mounts to 300k. That’s too painful on top of tuition,” wrote @Pharmemma256.
Ndyatunga Simon (@Timelessthemes), a former KIU student, said the system delayed his graduation for years.
“I suffered with this university for 9 years. A course that was supposed to last for 3 years ended up lasting for 9 years. I joined KIU in 2013 and finished my course in 2016 but couldn’t graduate until 2022 because of accumulated fees — over Shs 4.95 million,” he wrote.
Another user, @Rel8245, who sponsors a student at the university, accused KIU of “extortion.”
“I wanted to sue them regarding these fees, but I didn’t want to attract public attention. This is extortion, nothing else.”
“It’s worse for those of us on bursary schemes, the surcharges make you end up paying full tuition. The so-called half bursary has turned into an extortion trap.” said KIU student on bursary scheme
Several others expressed frustration over what they termed as “punitive systems” that target struggling students.
“Systems like this punish poverty instead of understanding it,” wrote @MosesMartin. “Education should lift people, not trap them in fines and deadlines.”
Meanwhile, some users compared KIU’s penalties to other institutions.
“At Makerere University, you can even clear tuition in the last week!” commented @kisubika_, while @solomon_ki67913 downplayed the complaints, saying, “Actually this is cheap… check out Ndejje University penalties.”
The controversy, which extends to KIU’s main campus in Kansanga, Kampala, has reignited debates over university fee policies and calls for reforms to make higher education more accessible.
By Press time, the university was yet publicly responded to these backlashes.
