MPs call for more funds for Kyambogo University
Sep 21, 2012
MPs on education and sports committee say government needs to help in improving structures at Kyambogo University
By Umaru Kashaka and Innocent Anguyo
MPs on education and sports committee have urged government to provide more funds to enable Kyambogo University improve its dilapidated structures.
When the legislators toured the university on Tuesday, they were saddened by the sorry state the university structures are in.
They urged the government to come to its rescue.
It is only five days since Kyambogo University was reopened following its closure over a strike by the teaching staff last month.
Despite business getting back to usual at the campus, there are more needs besides the staff salaries that need to be taken care of.
According to the MPs, the government has not invested enough in the institution.
“Everything from the library to the toilets is in appalling state. The 20% from government is not enough given the university’s background,” said Sylvia Namabidde, the committee chair.
She said Kyambogo inherited the current structures from the former Uganda Polytechnic, the Institute of Teacher Education, and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education.
The three institutions were merged to form Kyambogo University in 2003.
Namabidde added: “The demand for university education is higher than the institutional one. The population of this campus grew but the infrastructure remained as it was 10 years ago. This is putting the lives of everyone here at risk.”
The Palisa county MP Jacobo Opolot said a lot should be done to revamp Kyambogo to the level the university is aiming at.
“The University really needs affirmative action,” he recommended.
The committee also urged the university council to use the 80% it gets from students to improve sanitation and stock the library.
Kamara Nizeyimana, Bufumbira North MP rhymed with the rest of the MPs.
“There must be value for money. Each student pays Sh 20,000 as library fee but there are no new books; it’s only outdated ones of 1970s that are in shelves.
“How are students going to do their research when they are not having new books?”
The university chancellor Prof. John Osibo-Opuda said the insufficient government funding is partly to blame for the sorry state of the out-of-shape university structures.
“Everything is pinned on money. Provide us with sufficient funds and you will see the university improving,” he said.
The university is poised to get a grant from the African Development Bank to build a new library, but still the lawmakers insist government needs to allocate it more funds.
The committee said it would come up with recommendations in a report in two weeks’ time.
A copy of the report will then be handed over to the university council, the education ministry and the government.