Makerere To Admit On District Quotas

By John Eremu THE quota system of admission to Makerere University takes effect in the next academic year which begins in October, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education has said. Mr. Francis Lubanga told The New Vision on Thursday that the ministry was working on the admissions criteria, but hinted that the quotas would be based on the district populations among other things. "We are still discussing the modalities but the quotas are likely to be based on the district populations and those disciplines which are central to our development," he said. "By the 15th of next month, we will have taken a firm decision, but for sure the 4,000 students will be taken," Lubanga said. President Yoweri Museveni during his re-election campaign, promised to raise government scholarships to Makerere from the current 2,000 to 4,000 students a year. He also proposed a district quota system of admission as opposed to the current system where the 2,000 brightest students benefit from State sponsorship irrespective of where they come from. Museveni also said children from wealthy families should not benefit from State scholarships. Finance minister Gerald Ssendaula told The New Vision that the extra 2,000 students have been catered for in next year's budget. He, however, declined to disclose the amount allocated, saying it would be announced during the budget speech. But the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Ssebuwufu, said last week they had submitted a budget of sh5.2b for the extra students. Makerere University has been admitting about 14,000 students. Ends