Makerere University is the most revered institution of higher learning in Uganda, where every scholar would wish to go for further studies.
However, a concerning report from Auditor General Edward Akol has cast a shadow over Makerere University’s postgraduate programs, revealing significant delays in completion rates among master’s and PhD students.
The audit findings show that over 400 master’s students at Makerere’s main campus and 322 at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) have exceeded the standard two-year completion period, with many taking more than four academic years to complete their research.
This revelation comes as the university celebrated conferring 1,045 master’s degrees and 143 PhDs during this week’s graduation ceremonies.
The timing of this report coincides with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe’s recent commitment to improving administrative efficiency.
However, the audit suggests that deeper structural issues within postgraduate programs require urgent attention.
This completion crisis raises questions about the quality of postgraduate supervision and support systems at Uganda’s premier institution.
The challenge now lies in extending the university’s undergraduate successes to its postgraduate programs so that more students complete in record time.
