Makerere gets sh5b
Nov 03, 2007
THE Government has given sh5.1b to Makerere University to address the financial problems the cash- strapped institution is facing.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE Government has given sh5.1b to Makerere University to address the financial problems the cash- strapped institution is facing.
“We have given Makerere some money to push them forward until a comprehensive way to solve their financial problems is put in place,†said Keith Muhakanizi, the secretary to the treasury, on Thursday.
A source said finance minister Dr. Ezra Suruma had written to the vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, notifying him that the money had been released.
Makerere will get the money in three monthly installments of sh1.7b each.
It will be used for paying salaries for October, November and December, but the university has been warned not to use it for the staff pension scheme.
Makerere spends about sh4.2b monthly on salaries and pension for both academic and administrative staff.
The university bursar, Ben Byambabazi, said: “I know that the Ministry of Finance has released some money.†he said.
The release follows weeks of negotiation between officials from Makerere’s academic staff association and ministries of finance and education.
The payment was endorsed by President Yoweri Museveni after an inter-ministerial committee forwarded the matter to him.
The university had its electricity and internet disconnected because of non payment and academic staff had threatened to strike again if their salary arrears were not paid.
The Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has been chairing an inter-ministerial committee over the last two months in an attempt to resolve an imminent crisis at the university. Nsibambi says he will continue addressing Makerere’s problems as Prime Minister although his term of office as chancellor expired in October.
President Museveni is yet to make an appointment after the university council forwarded the names of vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and former general duties minister Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.
The inter-ministerial committee has recommended a special audit of Makerere university accounts, especially the utilisation of the sh50b generated from private students.
THE Government has given sh5.1b to Makerere University to address the financial problems the cash- strapped institution is facing.
“We have given Makerere some money to push them forward until a comprehensive way to solve their financial problems is put in place,†said Keith Muhakanizi, the secretary to the treasury, on Thursday.
A source said finance minister Dr. Ezra Suruma had written to the vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, notifying him that the money had been released.
Makerere will get the money in three monthly installments of sh1.7b each.
It will be used for paying salaries for October, November and December, but the university has been warned not to use it for the staff pension scheme.
Makerere spends about sh4.2b monthly on salaries and pension for both academic and administrative staff.
The university bursar, Ben Byambabazi, said: “I know that the Ministry of Finance has released some money.†he said.
The release follows weeks of negotiation between officials from Makerere’s academic staff association and ministries of finance and education.
The payment was endorsed by President Yoweri Museveni after an inter-ministerial committee forwarded the matter to him.
The university had its electricity and internet disconnected because of non payment and academic staff had threatened to strike again if their salary arrears were not paid.
The Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, has been chairing an inter-ministerial committee over the last two months in an attempt to resolve an imminent crisis at the university. Nsibambi says he will continue addressing Makerere’s problems as Prime Minister although his term of office as chancellor expired in October.
President Museveni is yet to make an appointment after the university council forwarded the names of vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya and former general duties minister Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.
The inter-ministerial committee has recommended a special audit of Makerere university accounts, especially the utilisation of the sh50b generated from private students.