President Museveni has directed Makerere University to rescind its decision to raise tuition fees by 10% for new students, members of the University Council, administrators, students’ leaders, members of MUASA and the Inspector General of Police, General Kale Kayihura.
Museveni’s directive to suspend the increment followed remarks by Guild President Ivan Bwo that the increment has particularly negatively affected students from poor families.
The President also directed that monies already paid by student following the increment be carried forward to other semester.
He explained that to have a quality university there is need to have professors & lecturers who are stable to teach the students.
“We must have teachers, professors and lecturers who are not running around teaching here and there. A professor should be earning about Ugshs 15 million. This way we shall retain the professors,’’ he said.
The President thus assured the University administration that starting next financial year the government will allocate Ugshs 300 billion to public to universities instead of the previous Ushs 120 billion which he said should be used to improve on the welfare of the professors and lecturers.
He also directed Makerere University to come up with the unit cost of educating a student excluding salaries of professors and lecturers.
“Private students do not have to pay salaries for teaching staff. They should be paying the unit cost of their education and other necessities, utilities -such as power, water etc. Government will take up payment of professors & lecturers salaries” he said.
President Museveni also asked the University administration to review the many courses and ensure they are relevant to the job market.
“Put emphasis on sciences, areas and segments of humanities that are marketable. There is a degree in conflict resolution; when conflicts are over, where will these people work. Are they not going to float on the streets? I want us to ensure the reputation of Makerere University grows but on useful courses,” he emphasized.
Commenting on Development studies, the President said that his original idea to Mbarara University was that it is taught as a paper to all students, whether science or arts students.
He also said that there was need for the University to compare and contrast with the rest of the third world universities in Africa.
“Study how Universities like Dar-es-Salaam, India, Nairobi perform better and pay their staff. Let’s have the facts and there won’t be anything to argue about,” President Museveni advised the officials.
Professor Mondo Kagonyera revealed that Makerere University has secured a grant of twenty million dollars from Master Card Organization towards helping disadvantaged students.
