By Mulengera Reporters
Speaker Anita Among has tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports to explain why Makerere University has operated for eight years without a substantive Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration.
The demands followed a concern raised by Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County) during the 20th February 2025 plenary sitting where he tasked Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja to explain the staffing shortages at Makerere University, which prompted Speaker to add that Makerere University Business School is also operating without a Deputy Principal.
Kwizera noted, “This Parliament appropriates money for all positions to be filled at Makerere University. But for 8years now, they haven’t had a substantive Vice Chancellor for Finance and worse still, the Chief Registrar now doubling as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics. Can the Ministry of Education tell us why for eight years, they haven’t had a substantive Deputy Vice Chancellor?”
Peter Ogwang, Minister of State for Sports promised to bring a statement to explain the current situation at both Makerere and MUBS noting, “Allow me bring a statement to answer the statement that the colleague has asked but also in that very statement, I will be able to address the one of MUBs.”
Recently, Makerere University has been under the spotlight on social media over allegations of corruption, abuse of power with reports emerging that Buyinza Mukadasi, has been holding two key position, serving both as Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic as well as the University’s Academic Registrar.
However, Kwizera’s question comes at the time a report by Parliament’s Education Committee for the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper detailed the gross understaffing at Public Universities with some Universities reporting staffing levels as low as l0% in some Universities, although the report focused in the academic area, not management level.
The report cited Busitema University with academic staffing level of 10%, Muni University at 11%, Gulu at 21% and Kabale and Mbarara Universities at 25%. Kyambogo University’s staffing level is at 35% and requires additional Shs54.0bn to address wage shortfalls, while Makerere University is currently operating at a staffing level of only 40%.
Further, the Parliamentary report indicated that aside the staffing shortages, operations at both Makerere University and MUBS are likely to be crippled in Financial Year 2025/26 due to the looming budget cuts that are projected after Makerere University Business School reported budget cuts to the tune of UGX8.04Bn mainly affecting their non-wage that suffered a 17% reduction and capital development a 27% reduction.
Makerere University on the other hand reported a UUG4.358bn budgetary reduction which will affect payment of student food and living allowance, teaching and learning and completion of ongoing capital development projects-Parliament Watch. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
