By KT Reporter
Hundreds of students from across Uganda remain stranded at Seta University following the conclusion of the Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) National Students Council meeting, amid claims that promised facilitation for transport, meals, and logistics never reached delegates.
The council meeting, which attracted more than 5,000 students, began on December 15 and brought together student leaders from districts, universities, and other institutions of higher learning to deliberate on student affairs and elect new national leaders.
However, what was initially billed as a historic national gathering has turned into a distressing ordeal for hundreds of delegates who are unable to return home. Students were reportedly supposed to receive transport refunds ranging between Shs70,000 and Shs100,000.
Dennis Tumuramye, the UNSA Coordinator for Kazo District in the Ankole sub-region, said the situation has overwhelmed district leaders and exposed students to serious hardship.
“As UNSA, students subscribe some money, and the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is our patron and has been funding a large part of our council meetings, including transport to and from, food, and basic logistics. Unfortunately, after voting on Friday, we were not given anything to help us return home,” Tumuramye said on Saturday evening.
According to Tumuramye, since Friday morning students have remained stranded without transport arrangements, meals, or clear communication from the association’s leadership.
He added that parents have been calling coordinators in distress as pressure mounts to ensure the safety and return of the students.
“Some of these students are very young—Senior Three, Senior Five, university and tertiary students, most of them below 25 years. Some are mothers. They have responsibilities at home. But we are here with nothing,” he said.
Tumuramye explained that transport costs have become an insurmountable challenge, with individual delegates needing between Shs10,000 and Shs70,000 to reach their destinations depending on distance—costs neither students nor district coordinators can afford.
Delegates say confusion deepened after assurances made during the opening session of the council. A representative from State House, Commissioner for Patriotism Helen Seku, reportedly informed delegates that funds for transport and facilitation had already been released.
However, by the final day of the meeting, UNSA leaders informed students that no funds were available. Attempts to reach Seku for clarification reportedly failed, with UNSA leaders saying she has since been unreachable.
The Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo—who is also associated with the hosting institution—visited Seta University but reportedly expressed surprise at the situation, indicating that he was unaware of the unfolding crisis.
Meanwhile, students have gone without meals since Friday morning, with some reportedly developing health complications due to hunger and stress.
A delegate from Katakwi District, who preferred to be identified only as Janifer, described the situation as desperate.“We came for the UNSA general meeting, but now we have hit a financial snag. We have not eaten anything since morning and there is no transport. The association appears broke,” she said.
Victor Bakunda, a student from Alliance Vocational School in Ibanda District, echoed similar concerns, saying communication from the organisers had completely broken down.
“We were promised money by the Commissioner for Patriotism, who said funds had already been disbursed. But since yesterday, no meals, no accommodation, no transport. We are stranded with nowhere to go,” Bakunda said.
The Chief Organiser and outgoing UNSA President, Wilson Mughazhu, acknowledged that the association had not yet received the expected funds and said they were still waiting for officials from State House to intervene.
However, he declined to issue an official media statement, citing concerns about antagonising government officials.
UNSA relies on minimal student subscriptions—sometimes as low as Shs2,000 per student—and has historically depended on government support to organise national activities such as Annual General Meetings and council sittings.
For now, hundreds of students remain camped at Seta University—hungry, exhausted, and stranded—hoping assistance arrives before the situation worsens further.
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