Govt to make changes at Makerere
Mar 27, 2009
THE Government wants to have a say in the appointment of top administrators of Makerere University, state minister for higher education Mwesigwa Rukutana said yesterday.
By Fortunate Ahimbisiwe
and Conan Busingye        Â
THE Government wants to have a say in the appointment of top administrators of Makerere University, state minister for higher education Mwesigwa Rukutana said yesterday.
The recommendation is contained in the Government White paper on higher education which has been approved by the Cabinet.
Addressing journalists at the ongoing stakeholders’ conference at Makerere University that ends today, Rukutana said the whitepaper recommends that the university’s administrative structures should be streamlined to improve efficiency.
“I have written to the Speaker of Parliament and the chairperson of the social services committee to consider the fast-tracking of this recommendation,†he said.
In May 2007, a 12-member committee, set up by President Yoweri Museveni, noted: “The University should undergo an overhaul of its administrative structure and style, including financial administration. Management training and re-training are urgently required.â€
“In particular, the management of internally generated funds from private fees should be investigated by a respectable firm of auditors or accountants,†the report noted.
Rukutana said the Government had adopted the recommendations of the committee which was chaired by Prof. Gordon McGregor.
However, the director of Makerere Institute of Research, Dr. Nakanyike Musisi, in her presentation, said the University and Tertiary Institutions Act, undermines Makerere’s autonomy by giving so much power to the minister and the National Council for Higher Education.
Currently top university administrators are appointed through an elective process while the bursar and university secretary are appointed by the University council.
The council chairman, Matthew Rukikaire, said his team briefed the President about the challenges at the public university two months ago.
and Conan Busingye        Â
THE Government wants to have a say in the appointment of top administrators of Makerere University, state minister for higher education Mwesigwa Rukutana said yesterday.
The recommendation is contained in the Government White paper on higher education which has been approved by the Cabinet.
Addressing journalists at the ongoing stakeholders’ conference at Makerere University that ends today, Rukutana said the whitepaper recommends that the university’s administrative structures should be streamlined to improve efficiency.
“I have written to the Speaker of Parliament and the chairperson of the social services committee to consider the fast-tracking of this recommendation,†he said.
In May 2007, a 12-member committee, set up by President Yoweri Museveni, noted: “The University should undergo an overhaul of its administrative structure and style, including financial administration. Management training and re-training are urgently required.â€
“In particular, the management of internally generated funds from private fees should be investigated by a respectable firm of auditors or accountants,†the report noted.
Rukutana said the Government had adopted the recommendations of the committee which was chaired by Prof. Gordon McGregor.
However, the director of Makerere Institute of Research, Dr. Nakanyike Musisi, in her presentation, said the University and Tertiary Institutions Act, undermines Makerere’s autonomy by giving so much power to the minister and the National Council for Higher Education.
Currently top university administrators are appointed through an elective process while the bursar and university secretary are appointed by the University council.
The council chairman, Matthew Rukikaire, said his team briefed the President about the challenges at the public university two months ago.