Care needed on Makerere investments
Apr 11, 2010
MAKERERE’S Vice Chancellor, Prof Venasius Baryamureeba last week announced a sh600b investment plan for the university. According to him, the university will now venture into real estate, hotels and petrol stations.Prof Baryamureeba is a man of vision.
MAKERERE’S Vice Chancellor, Prof Venasius Baryamureeba last week announced a sh600b investment plan for the university. According to him, the university will now venture into real estate, hotels and petrol stations.Prof Baryamureeba is a man of vision.
He has over the past five months announced a series of measures to revamp the university’s ailing systems.
These ideas look great, even if they fall outside the university’s core functions of providing higher education, research and publication and acting as the country’s premier think-tank.
However, they are also a potential landmine, if not thoroughly discussed with all stakeholders. Makerere attracts a lot of attention because it is a public institution. In the past, it has received negative criticism from the press for making bad decisions.
Prof Baryamureeba has done well in trying to change these bad practices. We would wish, however, to caution on the following: firstly, the university should provide more detail on the viability of these investment plans so that they are critiqued early enough.
Ugandans do not want to see a repeat of the NSSF-Nsimbe housing debacle, or the Temangalo scandal happening at Makerere.
Secondly, Makerere should consider setting up a reputable supervisory board, comprising of people in the business and investment fields.
Thirdly, Makerere should not let these ventures divert it from its core and priority functions.
There are also many things Makerere’s administration needs to sort out creatively: dealing with large classes, adding value to staff welfare and work, provision of basic teaching facilities and making better value of the large force of part-time staff. Baryamureeba’s vision is good but more inclusive discussion on the finer details is needed.
He has over the past five months announced a series of measures to revamp the university’s ailing systems.
These ideas look great, even if they fall outside the university’s core functions of providing higher education, research and publication and acting as the country’s premier think-tank.
However, they are also a potential landmine, if not thoroughly discussed with all stakeholders. Makerere attracts a lot of attention because it is a public institution. In the past, it has received negative criticism from the press for making bad decisions.
Prof Baryamureeba has done well in trying to change these bad practices. We would wish, however, to caution on the following: firstly, the university should provide more detail on the viability of these investment plans so that they are critiqued early enough.
Ugandans do not want to see a repeat of the NSSF-Nsimbe housing debacle, or the Temangalo scandal happening at Makerere.
Secondly, Makerere should consider setting up a reputable supervisory board, comprising of people in the business and investment fields.
Thirdly, Makerere should not let these ventures divert it from its core and priority functions.
There are also many things Makerere’s administration needs to sort out creatively: dealing with large classes, adding value to staff welfare and work, provision of basic teaching facilities and making better value of the large force of part-time staff. Baryamureeba’s vision is good but more inclusive discussion on the finer details is needed.