The Visitation Committee set up by President Museveni to investigate causes of strikes at Makerere University has ordered for a students head count to establish the number and status of the students.
The Visitation committee set up by President Museveni to investigate causes of strikes at Makerere University has ordered for a student's head count to establish the number and status of the students.
According to a document released on Tuesday by the University Academic Registrar, Alfred Masikye Namoah, the head count is slated to begin on Monday January 23, 2017.
“As part of its terms of reference, the visitation committee appointed by H.E the president of the Republic of Uganda will conduct a head count of all students of Makerere University,” reads part of the letter.
Namoah says all students of Makerere University are required to present themselves for the head count in their respective Colleges at the designated venues. Continuing students are asked to their Identity Cards and admission letters, while first year students should present their registration forms with an admission letter and their former secondary school identity card or National Identity Card.
Namoah appealed to students to comply with the head count team, warning that those who will miss shall be scrapped off from the university records.
“I strongly warn that those who will not be verified by the Committee shall be deemed not to be students of Makerere University and will be purged from all University records,” Masikye stated.
Charles Sentongo, acting Deputy Registrar Undergraduate Admissions and Records, confirmed that all relevant people have been informed of the exercise.
“The document is true, and we have alerted all relevant stakeholders to cooperate with the Committee. But we are not the ones to count; it will be the visitation committee. They said they want physical presence of students,” Sentongo said.
James Tayebwa, the guild Academic Affairs Minister said they welcome the head count saying it was long overdue. He however expressed fears on how effective it will be.
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Makerere University reopened on January 2 after two months of closure following strikes by staff and students.
After closing the university on November 1, 2016, President Museveni instituted the committee to look into the issues affecting the university and report after three months. On November 17, the committee started its work with a review of previous reports on the university. Dr. Abel Rwendeire, the committee chairperson says it will expand its work to include consultations with key stakeholders.
During an emergency General Assembly of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) on December 19, one of the lecturers Chris Mpirirwe said that members were concerned that the administration was not willing to disclose the number of students at Makerere.
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The visitation committee is expected to hand over its report to the president in March this year.
Davidson Ndyabahika
Freelancer
