President Yoweri Museveni has received a 355-page report from the Visitation Committee of Makerere University 2016.
The Deputy Chairperson of the Visitation Committee, Hon. Lady Justice Ketrah Katunguuka, handed over the report to the President this afternoon at the President’s country home of Rwakitura in Kiruhuura district and was witnessed by the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni.
Others present at the ceremony included the Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo and the top management of Makerere University.
President Museveni instituted the Committee in November 2016 to study the causes of the endemic strikes with a view to finding lasting workable solutions to the strikes. This was after the closure of Makerere University following industrial action at the institution by both Staff and students of the university at the beginning of the 2016/2017 academic semester on issues related to remuneration of the staff and students missing lectures.
The late Dr. Abel Rwendeire who died on October 2017 chaired the Committee. During the ceremony of the handover of the report today, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of the late Rwendeire.
Other members of the Makerere University Visitation Committee included, Dr. Akisophel Kisolo, Engineer Lumu Gerald, Hon Lwanga Timothy, Rev. Florence Muranga, Musasizi Paul Isaac, Mwanga John, Dr. Namubiru Ssentamu Proscovia and Jolly Uzamukunda, an ex-officio member.
The report highlights key issues at Makerere University that need to be addressed and suggests recommendations. The issues include the deficient national higher education strategy, structures and systems, inadequate governance leadership and management as well as weak structures for engagement of students, staff and other key stakeholders.
Others are the inadequate deployment of Information Technology, unsustainable funding model for higher education in Uganda, inadequate management accountability and deteriorating quality of teaching and learning as well as student discontent and triggers of strikes, among others.
President Museveni thanked members of the Makerere University Visitation Committee for their thorough work and promised that the Cabinet will discuss the report and come up with a White Paper for policy formulation.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, commended the partnership of her Ministry and the Committee and said that they look at this report as a saviour of higher institutions of learning, especially Makerere University.
Lady Justice Ketrah Katunguuka extended gratitude to the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports for the support and guidance since the Committee started its work. She further thanked President Museveni for entrusting the 9-member Committee with the noble task.
