Most private hostels in Banda Kyambogo have started calling students to come for their property saying that failure to do that, they will not be responsible for any loss.
When president Yoweri Museveni announced the closure of all learning institutions on 20th march, as a way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, students and hostel owners were optimistic that they might be reopened soon.
However, it is now over six months and the closure is continuing which has left the hostel owners with no hope. As a result, they have resorted to informing the students to come back for their property.
Eagle online visited some hostels to find out why the owners have decided that way and how they will go about it.
This reporter has found out that in hostels like Kabojja, Wamala girls, Palm, Good Shepherd, Tal, Eniad, Munir and Zein, Cariton, Liam, Erima and other hostels, students have already started picking their property.
At Some entrances of the hostels, the management pinned notices to students, communicating that they can pick their property “Dear Servite residents, due to the long unexpected holiday, you are all allowed to pick your property from your respective rooms in the presence of all your roommates.” Reads the notice at Servite students hostel Kyambogo.
Eagle online also learnt of a message that was sent to students of Jussy hostel reading “You are requested to pick your property for security purposes. The hostel is unable to keep your property for a period longer than anticipated”.
According to Cranma Byamugisha the custodian Jussy hostel that accommodates 300 students, they decided as management that students should be informed to come for their property because they are worried of student’s property being stolen since the closure seems to be continuing.
He notes that they know that most of the students come from far but the communication shall serve as a disclaimer. “If anything wrong happens, we shall not be 100% responsible. “he adds.
Byamugisha notes that whoever wants them to keep his/her property, shall agree with them to keep their property separately at an agreed cost.
“And what our students should know is that those who went with our balance, will first clear and we allow them to take property.” Notes Byamugisha, the Jussy Hostel Custodian.
Collin Nsamba the custodian of Erima hostel explains that they also decided to inform students to come for their property because they sent home a security guard who has been keeping them safe since the management has no money to keep on paying security yet they no longer earn and they will not charge students.
He says that the messages were sent last week and some students have started showing up and they will keep on reminding them.
Joyce Mirembe who is in charge of Cariton hostel which accommodates over 40 students argues that she has informed the students and no one has picked the property.
She says that they are also worried about the safety of the student’s property and they are as well spending yet students are not paying. Therefore, students who will be willing to give money for security will be helped.
Jameson Atukwatse who used to stay in Jussy hostel notes that upon receiving the notification, he started mobilizing friends and he had to travel from Isingiro district to Kampala to pick their property.
Adding that he could not manage shillings 100,000 as an alternative that they were told if they could not come for their property.
He says it has cost him much but he had nothing to do since paying shillings 100,000 every month for those properties is also expensive.
