Kyambogo University in fresh crisis

SUNDAY VISION

By Moses Walubiri and John Masaba

The dark days at Kyambogo University are not about to end. From broken sewers running through the compound to demoralised staff waiting for ages for their allowances, the university is struggling to meet the education needs of over 40,000 students.

“I have not been paid teaching allowance for Semester One, yet we are now deep into Semester Two,” a lecturer in the science department said.

He said sometimes the teaching materials are inadequate. “A scarcity of chalk, toner stationery and laboratory chemicals has hit most departments. When you ask, you are told there is no money,” he said.

He added that the heads of department had not met to discuss last semester’s results due to lack of toner and paper for printing.

A number of dealers have reportedly refused to supply the university on credit for fear of not getting paid.

According to a recent internal audit dated April 10, and released by the university chief internal auditor, Henry Duku, the institution lost sh5.5b in the academic year 2011/2012, in just one faculty – arts and social sciences.

The education committee of Parliament last year stumbled on the deteriorating sanitation problem at the university in an impromptu visit.

Saturday Vision has learnt that a whistleblower and some concerned students have petitioned the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) about the broken sewerage system, which is exposing students to cholera.

In an April 4 letter to NEMA, the whistleblower accused the university management of irresponsibly depositing human waste in open ground below the department of electrical engineering, yet money is routinely requisitioned to have it treated at the KCCA human waste treatment plant.

A source said the dilapidated state of the university’s sewerage system was made worse because the university did not have an estates officer.

“The one we had resigned. He was concerned about monitoring daily maintenance of infrastructure at the university,” the source said.

On Thursday, students went on strike, protesting the poor sanitation and the uncertainty about their future.

Efforts to reach the acting vice-chancellor, Prof. Opuda Asibo for a comment were futile as he failed to answer calls, while the university spokesperson was reportedly on leave.

However, a member of the university academic staff association blamed the situation on the former vice-chancellor. “He (Ndiege) and his associates are fighting from the rear. They want to make the situation so bad that the university has to be closed,” Daniel Ndawula said.

Ndawula said part of the problem owed to Ndiege’s system of centralising all university finances, which resulted in delay to pay staff allowances and procure learning materials.

“The money cannot be paid quickly because it is now difficult to make transfers from one central account,” he said.

Six months ago, a prolonged staff strike forced Prof. Isaiah Ndiege out of office, but the problems at the university seem to be very far from over.