The main gate of Kabale University
Parliament has revealed that most Public Universities are grossly understaffed, with some of the staffing levels falling below 20% in some Universities.
For example, Busitema University has academic staffing level of only 10%, Muni University staffing levels is at 15.65%, Soroti at 19% and Kabale at 24.6%.
The revelation was made by Remigio Achia, Vice Chairperson, Budget Committee while presenting the report on the 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper that also indicated that Kyambogo University’s staffing level is at 34% and requires additional UGX28.5Bbn to address wage shortfalls, while Makerere University is currently operating at a staffing level of only 39.63%.
Achia remarked, “The issue of understaffing is a cross cutting concern among the public universities which government must address and has occasioned in an increase in part time tutors and lecturers.”
The Budget Committee also noted that most public universities continue to grapple with issues of inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure hence the need for government to intervene and support the Universities with seed capital of about UGX15Bn each in FY 2025/26 and MTEF period to enable the universities address this issue in order to support the growing numbers of students in proper facilities that befit the universities and learning.
The other challenge cited in the Parliamentary report is the inadequate funding for government sponsored university student where Achia noted that the funds sent to the public Universities for government sponsored students are inadequate since funds are always sent for first year students in total disregard of the continuing government students leaving the University to source for funds from other budget items to pay them and avert any possible strikes.
“Case in point is Soroti University where government sponsored students have increased from 100 to 640 hence a shortfall of UGX200Bn. The Committee further observed that Kabale University is also dealing with similar constraints as government sponsored students increased from 100 in 2016/17 to 345 in 2025/26 without a corresponding increase in funding,” Achia explained.
Now, MPs want the Ministry of Finance to allocate enough funds commensurate to the number of Government sponsored students to avoid incidences where the University has to use its operational funds to give students allowances and apply for supplementary budget each financial year.
