After several benchmarks, Kyambogo university administration on Thursday last week made a resolution to privatise all dining halls after several complaints came in from students on grounds that the present caterers who were employed by the University were doing substandard work. This is not the first service to be outsourced, cleaning services are also currently being outsourced by the University.
In a closed council meeting attended by the university’s top administration including the Vice Chancellor Prof Elly Katunguka, the Dean of students Ms. Mildred Tibananuka and the students guild leaders, a resolution was passed to take on privatisation of all dining halls which will see external catering service providers come in to bid for the various Halls of residence dining effective next semester.
After benchmarking in various universities like University of Dar-es-salam and the University of Kenya, it was concluded that outsourcing such catering services was a viable and feasible move. Many external catering companies will be invited to bid under a competitive session- the best bidders will be allocated at various halls of residence dining halls to provide meals for both private and government sponsored students.
These service providers are expected to put up food serving stations at various dining halls where students can access any meal at any time at a relatively cheaper prices respectively .
This means that unlike before, even private students will be able to access meals by simply paying up a small fee whenever they feel like eating.
“We have moved to various universities, I personally have been to the University of Dar-el-salaam and these policies are working so well, we realised students especially private students were finding hard time to get meals around campus in that the meals were expensive and substandard but through this move things are going to be better,” commented Ochieng Joseph, the Kyambogo university guild president.
He also continued to say that gorvenment students will now have a decision to make on whether to take these meals or be given their monies (allowances) so they can cater for themselves. Also, a student’s welfare committee will be put in place to monitor the performance of these outsourced caterers and students plus administrators will constitute this committee.
