The vice chancellor of Kampala International University (KIU), Prof Muhammed Ngoma has urged the government to consider providing financial support to private universities.
He made the appeal during an appearance on NBS Television's People & Power show.
Ngoma, emphasised that funding for private universities would enable them to produce a greater number of professionals.
"My appeal to government is to come out and also fund the private universities. Give some fund to private universities. If we had many universities where learners can go, we would have so many doctors, engineers," he said.
His appeal comes amid concerns that the rapid increase in the number of universities has resulted in some producing inadequately prepared graduates.
However, Ngoma suggested that the solution lies in the National Council for Higher Education enhancing its regulatory measures to ensure that universities maintain quality standards.
"We have the regulators, we just have to strengthen the regulation arm to ensure that what these universities are doing is the right thing," he said.
Additionally, Ngoma called on the government to invest more in vocational training institutions to benefit students who do not gain admission to universities.
"The government should increase its investment in vocational education. Many students who do not make it to universities end up in vocational programs, but they often lack awareness of these options, and some vocational schools are not well equipped," he noted.
