Persistent strikes by students in public universities in Uganda

The purpose of this study was to examine the persistent strikes by students in public universities in Uganda: a case study of Makerere University. The objectives of the study were to examine the causes of strikes in Makerere University in the past 10 years, to identify the perceived effects of these strikes on students in the university in the past 10 years and to identify the strategies that should be taken by Makerere University to stop them from reoccurring. The study adopted a qualitative and quantitative research designs to gather information from the respondents. The research collected data from 63 respondents. Findings: the causes of strikes were found to be; fees increment, poor quality foods and reduced varieties of food, lack of student involvement in running of university and fear of examinations; the effects were; distortion of normal class hours, suspension and expulsion and massive destruction of student property and the strategies to manage strikes were; proper planning and practice of public relations, proper university management and safeguarding of power was identified as the least strategy that can reduce strikes.