Makerere again!

Oct 09, 2005

EDITOR’S COMMENT: MAKERERE University was in the news again this week for a wrong reason.

MAKERERE University was in the news again this week for a wrong reason.
The bickering between the main campus and its Nakawa-based Business School (MUBS) threatens the future of over 2,000 students.
The affected students – mainly those on the Bachelors of Commerce (External Programme) took to the streets after going for two years without their results.
MUBS accuses the university of defaulting on examinations fees and lecturers’ salaries.
Whatever the case, the fight over the administration of funds between the two institutions should not affect the students.
Both institutions have clear administrative channels on how to share internally generated funds and there should be no reason why students should be held at ransom on issues that are clearly not of their own making.
While Makerere and MUBS are by law autonomous institutions, I believe such autonomy is not absolute.
The Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act still gives the Minister of Education limited powers over public institutions.
The President, who is the University Visitor, can also intervene in public interest. Makerere should strive to clean its image if it is not to be seen as a money hungry institution.
Ends

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