KAMPALA – A Makerere University student pursuing a Masters in Journalism and Communication identified as Mr Denis Peter Nabende has on September 25, 2019, has accused the Makerere University Estate department of unfair treatment for allegedly denying him a student parking access card because he drives a car that is not registered under his names.
In a letter addressed to the Makerere University administration, Mr Nabende said he on September 24, 2019, applied for a student parking access card but the department officials denied him the card since the car logbook is not in his names.
“A staff informed me that this was part of the requirements on top of a copy of the driving permit which should be in the names of the registered car owner as well,” Nabende narrated in a letter.
He further wondered why the university would assume that whoever drives fully own the vehicle and how vehicle ownership would be of concern to the institution.
“What happens to students who drive cars given to them by an acquaintance for the duration of their study or one who drives a company-owned or allocated car? Would they be required to pay for parking tickets for the duration of their study? How would such a case be handled?” Nabende noted.
He added that “You can, for instance, make use of a common identifier which is the centrally allocated student number. This would be linked to the specific number plate that the student presents at registration for the semester-long access card. This way, you will have linked the student to the car plate since it is the student who has an interest in accessing the university and not the car owner. Why must ownership of the vehicle be of interest to the university? Must all students own the cars they drive?”
Mr Nabende said he spends an average of five hours a day and four days a week at the university and he is forced to pay shs3000 every day he goes to attend lectures something he says is unfair to him as a student.
Mr Lukwago Abraham Jesse a third-year undergraduate student of Journalism and communication has expressed his concern over the same matter saying officials at the estates department are not easy to work with as they always give excuses.
“Can you imagine I already got the clearance to acquire my gate pass sticker [student’s parking access card] but it has been three semesters and every time I go to pick it they give me stories of how they are not yet out? Is that even real?” Lukwago wondered.
Asked whether he also pays, Mr Lukwago said he uses the clearance papers that were given to him in order to acquire the card.
