Makerere University will start the new year amid controversial issues again like it has been in the recent past. The University is said to be in possession of over ‘16,000 ghost students’ by the nine member probe committee appointed in mid November 2016 at the helm of several strikes that saw the biggest public university in the country closed for over 4 months.
According to the report handed over by the committee to President Museveni on Friday 29th, December 2017, 29, 889 students were head counted by the committee which is contrary to the 46, 128 students on the list they received from the University management which leaves 16, 239 of these unaccounted for.
The report also reveals that there are cases of duplicated names on the University staff registrars for several colleges and that over 409 employees revealed in the head count surpasses the number that was presented to them by the management.
“There is risk that some of these students may not actually be genuine students of the University and by the time of compiling this report, The University didn’t explain why these students didn’t turn up for head count.”
In his response to these accusations however, the Makerere University vice chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe told media on Sunday 31st December 2017, that some of these students (46, 128) are on external programmes and could not be captured by the said head count.
The committee sealed up the report, recommending that Makerere University should remain as a graduate University but also teaching under graduate science and technology programmes with five colleges and the School of Law locking out all arts and other related courses.
The five are;
°College of Natural Sciences (CONAS)
° College of Health Science (CHUSS)
° College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT)
° College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS)
°College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
It revealed that the College of Education where the Makerere University serving guild president hails from be shifted to Kyambogo University, College of Business to Makerere University Business School (MUBS), and the College of Humanities to Nsamizi Training Institution.
The idea was first raised by Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) executive director, Professor Mahmood Mamdani in his presentation to the visitation committee and it only awaits the presidents signature and directive to come into play.
Other findings and recommendations
Management: The committee also observed inadequate management accountability following several weaknesses which reflect inadequacies in financial management, procurement, asset management and grants management resulting into financial loss to Makerere University.
Students’ grievances: The committee also noted that students were highly discontented regarding the fees policy and charges and examinations and results managements. There was general discontent resulting from, staff strikes, absenteeism of some staff, sexual harassment, and key welfare issues including security, physical infrastructure, sanitation and meals. The insensitivity of infrastructure towards the disabled was also noted.
Council composition: The committee also questioned the composition of Makerere University Council with more than 50 per cent non-independent members (staff and students) which creates conflict of interest and compromises objectivity. The committee recommended that the council of a public university should be composed of 15 members.
Of these, nine should be independent members (from outside the university with knowledge, competencies and experience in key areas of higher education governance).
Additional reporting by Daily Monitor
