Surviving on UGX 93,000: Exploring Student Welfare Challenges and Experiences at Makerere University

Abstract

This study explored the welfare challenges and experiences of government-sponsored students living on a UGX 93,000 non-residential stipend per semester for food and other costs at Makerere University, Kampala. Guided by Scitovsky’s Consumer Choice Theory and Sen’s Capability Approach, the study adopted a convergent parallel mixed-methods case study design. Quantitative data were collected through surveys from 370 undergraduate students; qualitative insights were concurrently gathered through 15 key informant interviews and four focus group discussions. The findings suggest severe structural vulnerabilities, including systemic food insecurity (74% of respondents skipping meals), substandard and unsafe off-campus housing, and acute psychological distress stemming from financial exclusion. The UGX 93,000 allowance appears insufficient to cover the actual cost of living in Kampala. Consequently, students may resort to high-risk coping mechanisms, including transactional relationships, frequent academic absences, and predatory micro-loans, which severely compromise their academic performance and personal safety. The study suggests that the current allowance framework may violate basic human dignity and consequently undermine the equity objectives of public higher education. The recommendations include the immediate inflationary adjustment of the student welfare fund by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the establishment of subsidized university-managed food hubs, and the standardization of conditions for private off-campus student accommodation through the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).