Makerere backtracks on paying Students' allowances through Mobile Money
Makerere University management has halted the planned use of Mobile Money services for the payment of student's allowances. This comes after several students questioned the move saying a number of them had challenges with the service as opposed to the using Banks.
Government sponsored Students who reside outside the main campus receive at least Shs708, 750 per Student every semester as a living-out allowance to cover the cost of their accommodation and meals.
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Out of this, Shs127,500 is calculated for an individual students rent in four months, Shs 21, 250 for Water and Electricity, Shs 84, 000 for transport at unit cost of Shs1000 for 84 days (excluding weekends) and Shs476,000 as food allowance for 119 days at a rate of Shs 4000 per student per day.
This money has previously been paid through the banks. But early this week, Cyriaco Kabagambe, the Dean of Students issued a statement saying that the university had opted for the e-wallet service effective this semester. All students were expected to submit their mobile money registered phone numbers, to enable the university process the allowances for the ongoing semester,
But, Augustine Tamale, the University Bursar, said that the implementation had been rushed.
"We agreed to pay the students through their bank accounts and not mobile money. First of all, these students are not staff and so they don't have a tax identification number required under the government payment system (IFMIS)," Tamale said.
He added that Makerere University Authorities had discussed and agreed that this payment through mobile money is halted. "We will again discuss it at some point to see whether it is possible to go mobile money. But for now, we shall pay using banks," he added.
However, students have also continued to cite delays in payment of this money meant for their upkeep including meals and accommodation. Some students receive this money almost towards the end of the semester which they say affects their studies.
