A section of Members of Parliament have questioned the delayed report by the House Committee on Education and Sports on its investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of Makerere University students by security personnel.
Addressing the media on Friday at Parliament, Moses Mulondo the UPPA President said that the attack on the media by security personnel has been consistent and is deliberate.
The Committee Chairperson, Jacob Richards Opolot, the Pallisa County MP noted with concern the poor state of toilets at the university as brought to the attention of the committee by students recently.
On Tuesday, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe briefed the Education Committee chaired by Pallisa County MP, Jacob Opolot about the end of the partnership, saying they need additional funding for research from government.
Members of Parliament sitting on the education committee have learnt that Makerere University’s Dental Schools requires Shillings 1.4 billion budgetary allocation to install all required equipment for the facility to become fully functional.
Speaker Kadaga says that there is need to look into the appointments at the institution which she said has been marred with illegalities aimed at pushing qualified personnel especially women out of leadership positions.
The PAC Chair, Angeline Osegge, said Makerere has failed to disclose funds raised from short courses and ensure the money is shared by different colleges, in accordance with the university policy.
State House Comptroller Lucy Nakyobe says that the committee, which is yet to present its investigation report, has spent 2.434 billion Shillings in allowances and travel abroad. This includes an expenditure of 1.811 billion Shillings on allowances and 623 million Shillings on travel.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor John Ddumba Ssentamu has revealed that the university is considering to postpone recruitment of students in the Department of Dentistry due to staffing gaps. Ddumba cites a challenge of staffing at the university, including at the dental department where only five of the 10 available positions are filled. The 2015 Auditor Generals report noted that out of 2,774 established academic positions at Makerere University, only 1,333 of 48 are filled, leaving a staffing gap of 1,441 positions about 52.
Connie Nakayenze, the Legal Committee chairperson told parliament that in their meeting with the MUBS management, consensus was reached with the institution agreeing to drop the demand of having the name Makerere from its nomenclature. She noted that MUBS has now settled for a new name Metropolitan University of Business Studies, to help them retain the acronym MUBS.
Joshua Anywarach, the Padyere County MP, says President Museveni should consider the plight of parents who have already paid tuition for their children.
Prof. Dr. Arthur Ahimbisibwe, the Chairperson Makerere University Business School Academic Staff Association, says that in May this year cabinet resolved that MUBS be turned into a degree awarding institute, which he says is way below the current status of the school.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga observed that although government has a right to appoint a visitation committee to inquire into the affairs of Makerere University, parliament will not for its report. She promised to create space on the order paper to allow parliament debate the issues of Makerere University extensively.
Professor Ddumba Ssentamu, the Makerere Vice Chancellor told MPs on the Education committee this morning that the 39 certificate, diploma, degree, Masters and PhD programmes are currently under review for consideration for merging, scrapping or integration as course units.
Makerere University acting Secretary Barugahare Charles confessed that the money was deducted from the payroll and not remitted but rather diverted to fund other priorities due to limited funds.
According to the Auditor General’s report, Makerere University has assets and cash equivalents of 13.7 billion while receivables are 3.7 billion shillings. Kwizera wondered if these were the actual disclosure of the monies, but Karamagi had no documents to show proof.
Appearing before PAC on Wednesday, the officials led by the University Secretary David Muhwezi Kahundha failed to clearly explain why some of the students’ payments were not being recorded in accordance with the reporting system.
While appearing before the social services committee of parliament today, Charles Bakkabulindi, the State Minister for sports explained that the ministry only sought for the legal interpretation if the process is halted.
