SOROTI- In a dramatic standoff at Kyambogo University’s Soroti Learning Centre, over 600 students have been left in despair as their lecturers withhold exam results, citing months of unpaid salaries. This impasse has stirred considerable unrest within the student body and has drawn the attention of the nation’s top lawmakers, with Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among now stepping in to expedite a resolution.

The issue was brought to the floor of Parliament by Soroti City West MP Jonathan Ebwalu, who disclosed that the affected students are facing an academic roadblock due to the university’s failure to meet its financial obligations to the lecturers at the Soroti Learning Centre. According to Ebwalu, this salary dispute has prompted lecturers to withhold the results, effectively jeopardizing students’ futures and potentially delaying their graduation timelines.

"Madam Speaker," Ebwalu stated in Parliament, "I have here a list of 118 students whose results remain withheld by the university. But this is just the tip of the iceberg—an estimated 600 students are caught in this crisis.” Ebwalu underscored how the prolonged withholding of results has left students, some of whom are nearing the completion of their studies, in a state of uncertainty and frustration.

The Speaker of Parliament responded strongly, recognizing the impact the issue has on the students and their families. She condemned the withholding of results as a punishment that ultimately harms students who are not at fault. Speaker Among demanded immediate action from the Ministry of Education and Kyambogo University’s administration, emphasizing that students’ academic journeys should not be disrupted by administrative and financial disputes.

This incident has brought to light broader systemic issues around lecturer remuneration and administrative support within Kyambogo University’s regional learning centres. Sources close to the university suggest that these salary arrears are not isolated to the Soroti Learning Centre, raising questions about the financial stability and governance of Kyambogo’s satellite campuses across the country.

In response, the Ministry of Education has been called upon to investigate the situation urgently. A detailed statement from the Ministry is anticipated in the coming days, outlining proposed solutions to ensure lecturers receive their dues and that students’ results are released without further delay. As students await clarity, the university’s reputation and the future of hundreds of young Ugandans remain at a standstill, with the hope that a resolution will come swiftly.

This standoff has also sparked wider conversations about the administration of Uganda’s public universities and the need for consistent and fair lecturer remuneration to avoid similar crises in the future.