Remigio Achia, Vice Chairperson, Parliament’s Budget Committee.
Government has been urged to earmark UGX15Bn to each public University in the coming years so as to improve their dilapidated infrastructure.
The call has been made by Parliament’s Budget Committee in their report on the 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper that was recently tabled before Parliament by Remigio Achia, Vice Chairperson, Parliament’s Budget Committee.
“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 Shs15bn each in FY 2025126 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 and facilitate them develop and rehabilitate their infrastructure in FY2026/27 and MTEF Period,” Achia noted.
The Budget Committee also revealed that most Public Universities are grossly understaffed, with some of the staffing levels falling below 20% in some Universities and cited; Busitema University with academic staffing level of only 10%, Muni University at 15.65%, Soroti at 19%o and Kabale at 24.6%.
Kyambogo University’s staffing level is at 34% and requires additional UShs28.57bn to address wage shortfalls, while Makerere University is currently operating at a staffing level of only 39.63% to mention but a few.
“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,” Achia explained.
Additionally, Parliament also raised concerns over the inadequate funding for government sponsored university students with Achia remarking, “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.”
He cited the case in point is Soroti Universities where government sponsored students have increased from 100 to 640 hence a shortfall of Shs200Million, a vice that was observed at Kabale University that is also dealing with similar constraints as government sponsored students increased from 100 in 2016117 to 345 without an increase in funding, this prompting calls to have Government allocate funds that is commensurate with the number of Government sponsored students.
Parliament also asked the Ministry of Finance to reverse its planned budget cuts at Public Universities after Makerere University Business School reported budget cuts to the tune of Shs8.04bn mainly affecting their non-wage that suffered a 17%o reduction and capital development, while Makerere University reported a UGX4.358bn budgetary reduction which will affect payment of student food and living allowance, teaching and learning and completion of ongoing capital development projects.
Additionally, Lira University reported a budgetary reduction of Ushs495m which included a UGX178Million non-wage and a UGX250Million development budget yet the institution reported to the Committee its contractual payment obligations that are to be met to mention but a few.
Achia explained, “The issue of budgetary reduction is a cross cutting concern among the public universities which government must address owing to the fact that nearly all these universities report increasing enrolment levels and therefore need adequate financial support to meet the ever, increasing demand. The Committee recommends that Ministry of Finance commit to addressing the issue of budgetary reductions in public universities cognizant of the fact that nearly all these universities are faced with increasing enrolment levels year after year.”
