Makerere University’s authority has disclosed the dire state of understaffing plaguing the prestigious institution. With at least 1,700 critical positions vacant, the university is grappling with significant challenges impacting its academic performance and overall functionality.
During the session on Thursday, Prof Umar Kakumba, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics at Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, shed light on the severity of the situation. He highlighted how the institution’s academic standards have been on a decline, partly attributed to the escalating understaffing issues that have persisted over the years.
According to Prof Kakumba, the approved number of professorial positions stands at 419. However, the university currently only has 78 professors on board. Similarly, out of the approved 433 associate professor positions, only 155 are filled. The shortage continues down the ranks, with 322 gaps in the 596 approved senior lecturer positions, and 356 vacancies in the 871 required lecturer positions.
“In total, we have a gap of 1,720 employees needed to fill critical roles in our academic department,” Prof Kakumba stated, revealing that Makerere’s academic staffing is at a deficit of 55 percent.
The gravity of the situation becomes even more pronounced when considering the overall staff establishment at Makerere. With a total of 7,136 positions for both academic and non-academic staff, only 2,853 positions, or 40 percent, are currently filled. This leaves a staggering 60 percent, or 4,283 positions, vacant.
Prof Kakumba emphasized the pressing need to recruit technicians, especially in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The shortage of technicians has had tangible repercussions, such as the suspension of accreditation for Makerere’s veterinary medicine graduates.
He further elaborated, stating, “The Medical Council also threatened to suspend the accreditation of graduates of Makerere medical school. Technicians are a mandatory requirement for laboratory-based training and related practicals in the STEM disciplines.”
To address these challenges, Makerere University urgently requires the recruitment of 258 technicians, with an annual wage implication of Shs8.8 billion. Prof Kakumba suggested that recruitment could be phased if the necessary funds are not immediately available. Additionally, there is a need for a wage requirement of Shs4.34 billion for 184 academic staff members eligible for promotion.
In response to these revelations, legislators on the education committee emphasized the critical need for government intervention. They stressed the importance of providing immediate support to all public universities to ensure the delivery of quality higher education across the country.
