Tensions ran high at Kyambogo University today after police fired tear gas to disperse students protesting a recent increase in tuition fees.
What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly turned chaotic, with students blocking roads on campus and clashed with police officers.
The students, many of whom say they’re already struggling financially, argue that the tuition hike unfairly targets low-income learners and makes higher education even more inaccessible.
“This fee increase is just not fair. It’s pushing many of us out of school,” one protester said, asking to remain anonymous for their safety.
So far, the university has not officially addressed the details of the fee changes or responded to the protest.
Witnesses at the scene say the situation escalated when students started throwing stones at the police, who then responded with tear gas and batons.
Several students were reportedly arrested, though the number remains unclear. Videos and photos circulating on social media show students running through clouds of tear gas in scenes of panic and confusion.
This isn’t the first time Kyambogo has seen unrest over tuition hikes. A similar protest in 2024, sparked by a 50% fee increase for new students in some programs, also ended in police intervention using tear gas and pepper spray.
The incident has reignited national conversations about the affordability of higher education in Uganda, with critics pointing to gaps in the government’s funding approach for public universities.
