Makerere, IUIU voting rights stripped
May 22, 2009
CASH-strapped Makerere University and Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) have been stripped of their voting rights at the Association of African Universities for non-payment of subscription fees.
By John Eremu
in Abuja, Nigeria
CASH-strapped Makerere University and Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) have been stripped of their voting rights at the Association of African Universities for non-payment of subscription fees.
The two universities along with a dozen others from the continent others have been removed from the list of universities in ‘Good Standing’ and have been barred from participating in key activities of the association including nominating or fielding candidates for any elective positions.
The decision was taken last year and confirmed at the association’s 12th general conference held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja recently.
However, the conference opened by the Nigerian president Umar Yar’Adua admitted Uganda Martyrs University - Nkozi (UMU) and Kampala International University as full members.
“I am thrilled by the elevation to full membership,†said UMU vice chancellor Prof. Charles Olweny.
“Ours is a young university so this provides a great opportunity to learn from the older universities. We pay the subscription fees, but the benefits are also enormous. For instance, they have approved for us a visiting professor from South Africa who will be with us for three months. We shall only meet his accommodation and local transport costs. So, in a way we have recouped the subscription we paid,†added Olweny who was also elected to the association’s governing board.
Universities pay an annual subscription of $3,000 (about sh6.4m) to the association that brings together some 200 universities across the continent. Makerere and IUIU were not represented at the conference that also discussed the Role of Higher Education in Sustainable Development in Africa. Over 250 vice chancellors attended the conference at the Abuja International Conference Centre.
When contacted, Makerere University spokesperson Gilbert Kadilo said: “May be the university has not had interest in renewing its membership.â€
The IUIU vice-rector Mohamoud Mpezamihigo said they had organised the payments.
Only universities with less than two years of arrears are described as in ‘Good Standing’ and stand to benefit from the $20.3m (sh45b) AAU programmes budget over the next three years. The main programmes approved include support for leadership development, research, scholarships, staff and student exchange.
The association secretary general, Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai, said the accumulated arrears that stand at $1.8m (sh4bn) had affected some of their programmes. He said of the projected $0.64m expected last year, only $0.5 was realised. Â
The defaulting universities, however, survived expulsion under Article 6 (4b) of the association which states that: “A member, who persistently fails to fulfil its obligations, in particular as they relate to the payment of subscriptions, may be expelled from the association in accordance with any bylaws made for the purpose.â€
It was argued that the expulsion would lead to adverse regional and linguistic imbalance in the membership.
in Abuja, Nigeria
CASH-strapped Makerere University and Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) have been stripped of their voting rights at the Association of African Universities for non-payment of subscription fees.
The two universities along with a dozen others from the continent others have been removed from the list of universities in ‘Good Standing’ and have been barred from participating in key activities of the association including nominating or fielding candidates for any elective positions.
The decision was taken last year and confirmed at the association’s 12th general conference held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja recently.
However, the conference opened by the Nigerian president Umar Yar’Adua admitted Uganda Martyrs University - Nkozi (UMU) and Kampala International University as full members.
“I am thrilled by the elevation to full membership,†said UMU vice chancellor Prof. Charles Olweny.
“Ours is a young university so this provides a great opportunity to learn from the older universities. We pay the subscription fees, but the benefits are also enormous. For instance, they have approved for us a visiting professor from South Africa who will be with us for three months. We shall only meet his accommodation and local transport costs. So, in a way we have recouped the subscription we paid,†added Olweny who was also elected to the association’s governing board.
Universities pay an annual subscription of $3,000 (about sh6.4m) to the association that brings together some 200 universities across the continent. Makerere and IUIU were not represented at the conference that also discussed the Role of Higher Education in Sustainable Development in Africa. Over 250 vice chancellors attended the conference at the Abuja International Conference Centre.
When contacted, Makerere University spokesperson Gilbert Kadilo said: “May be the university has not had interest in renewing its membership.â€
The IUIU vice-rector Mohamoud Mpezamihigo said they had organised the payments.
Only universities with less than two years of arrears are described as in ‘Good Standing’ and stand to benefit from the $20.3m (sh45b) AAU programmes budget over the next three years. The main programmes approved include support for leadership development, research, scholarships, staff and student exchange.
The association secretary general, Prof. Goolam Mohamedbhai, said the accumulated arrears that stand at $1.8m (sh4bn) had affected some of their programmes. He said of the projected $0.64m expected last year, only $0.5 was realised. Â
The defaulting universities, however, survived expulsion under Article 6 (4b) of the association which states that: “A member, who persistently fails to fulfil its obligations, in particular as they relate to the payment of subscriptions, may be expelled from the association in accordance with any bylaws made for the purpose.â€
It was argued that the expulsion would lead to adverse regional and linguistic imbalance in the membership.