Makerere Speaks on Scrapping Courses Today Police has used teargas to disperse Makerere University Business School students in Nakawa, Kampala, who were protesting over reports that 31 courses will be scrapped by Makerere University. The campus publicist, Ritah Namisango was quoted as saying the courses would be dropped due to the institution’s projected income shortfalls. They include Leadership and Governance, Office and Information Management, Procurement and Supplies Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Science in Conservation Biology, Wildlife Health & Management Organisational Studies, PGD in Environmental Journalism & Communication and PGD in mass communication among others. MUBS Vice Chancellor, Prof Waswa Balunywa said the media reports “caused unrest among the students,” adding, “whoever conceived this story did it in bad faith.” He explained that, “As we left with students leaders to go to the ministry in our new bus the students blocked us but subsequently let us go when they learnt what the delegation was and where we were going. As we got out of the gate another group pushed the bus which almost caused an accident on the road side.” Balunywa said Police decided to disperse the students with tear gas “as they became rowdy.” He fled to safety using a boda boda. Namisango told us today, that the news reports have since “created tensions at MUBS.” She said her comments used in the article were focused on the funding challenges faced at Makerere University (shortfall in the projected income, delayed payment of incentives etc) and what Makerere University was doing despite the shortfall in income to continue operating. Namisango said the University Council tasked the Kabaasa Committee to analyze the funding situation at Makerere University, review the costs/expenditure and needs, and priorities of the University. During a recent meeting with Makerere administrators, President Museveni was informed that the University continues to lose highly qualified staff due to the un-competitive salary structure. In addition, poor staff pay had led to high attrition of PhD holders/senior academic staff to other countries. This is more acute at the higher levels of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:50:46 +0000
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