Makerere report says university should teach only sciences and post graduate courses

The report by the Makerere University Visitation Committee has recommended radical measures in the way the university is run including limiting Uganda's oldest and most prominent public university to only offering science courses at degree level and graduate degrees (master's degrees and PhDs).

The committee was chaired by the late Abel Rwendeire and finalised the report mid this year.

However it was only handed to President Museveni on Friday at Rwakitura.

President Museveni instituted the committee in November 2016 to study the causes of the endemic strikes at the university with a view to finding lasting workable solutions to the strikes.

This was after the closure of the university following industrial action at the institution by both staff and students over a number of issues ranging from missing marks to poor renumeration.

According to the recommendations, the committee says the College of Humanities and Social Sciences should be shifted to Nsamizi Training College while business courses should be moved to Makerere University Business School (MUBS).

This would leave Makerere with only the graduate and undergraduate sciences programmes

Museveni said it is time to remunerate the scientists at a higher salary level which is comparable to what is offered by other universities in the region. He emphasised the issues of priorities and setting salaries for various cadres.

The issue of government sponsorship was also highlighted. From the discussion,the general view was that the students' loan scheme, district quota system and the State House sponsorship should be put under one umbrella and managed as district sponsorship.

The deputy chairperson of the Visitation Committee, Lady Justice Keturah Katunguuka handed over the report to the president .

The occasion was witnessed by Janet Museveni, the first lady and minister of Education and Sports, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, the minister of state for Higher education and the top management of Makerere University.

Other issues highlighted in the report are: the inadequate deployment of Information Technology, unsustainable funding model for higher education in Uganda, inadequate management accountability and deteriorating quality of teaching and learning as well as student discontent and triggers of strikes, among others.