Published on 19/09/2024
Members of Parliament are alarmed by the declining quality of education in Uganda, citing severe understaffing at public universities. Kyambogo University is particularly affected operating with only 12% of its required academic staff.
The issue came to light after Moriku Kaducu, the Minister of State for Higher Education, defended the university’s decision to dismiss part-time staff who did not meet new recruitment standards. Kaducu explained that prior to the 2024/2025 academic year, part-time staff were hired directly by heads of departments without a thorough vetting process.
This policy has since been revised, and the university now follows a stricter recruitment procedure, leading to the dismissal of those without sufficient qualifications. She further noted that the university is only operating at 35% of its staffing capacity due to budget constraints.
“The arrears for part-time staff currently stand at UGX 6.74 billion. This quarter, Kyambogo received UGX 149 million, but after covering utilities and other expenses, nothing remains to pay outstanding debts,” said Kaducu.
The university’s staffing levels paint a grim picture. Out of an established 1,390 academic positions, only 418 are filled, leaving 972 vacancies. Similarly, only 183 out of 463 administrative positions are staffed. Support staff face similar shortages, with 441 out of 736 positions unfilled.
Several MPs were not satisfied with the minister’s response. Margaret Rwabushaija criticized the university for laying off staff without clearing their arrears, while Workers MP Charles Bakabulindi questioned why the university focused on recruitment methods rather than compensating those who had already rendered services. “Before you address the staffing gaps, pay the people what you owe them. They are not ghost workers,” Bakabulindi argued.
Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, raised broader concerns about the quality of education across Uganda, noting that the staffing crisis is not unique to Kyambogo. “We must invest in education. Pay these staff before you dismiss them. The question remains—what kind of education are students receiving with such staffing gaps?”
Ssenyonyi also highlighted critical shortages in senior academic staff in key faculties like Engineering and Architecture, which have long been the university’s strongholds. Other lawmakers, including Emmanuel Ongiertho and Connie Nakayenze, pointed out that Kyambogo’s situation is not an anomaly, with similar or worse conditions prevailing in other public universities, including Muni and Gulu.
Nakayenze warned that reducing part-time staff without addressing the staffing shortfalls could severely affect the quality of graduates. “If Kyambogo is at 30%, what can we expect from universities operating at just 12%?” she asked.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, however, pushed back against suggestions to rely on part-time lecturers, citing Makerere University’s reforms that revealed professors were receiving salaries without contributing teaching hours. Tayebwa argued that universities should prioritize full-time staff for mentorship, research, and knowledge development, insisting, “Part-timers cannot sustain a university. We must invest in permanent staff to ensure quality.”
