Makerere University has scrapped evening lectures, a program that started way back in the early 1990s.
The move will be effected beginning the 2018/2019 Academic Year in August, meaning that the students who are currently enrolled for the programme will not be affected.
While addressing reporters at Makerere University’s main building, the Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe addressed a number of issues including sexual harassment, guild elections and other academic related issues at Uganda’s most prestigious university.
“During its meeting held 14th March 2018, the University Council resolved that all new students starting with the coming academic year 2018/2019, will be admitted to study various academic programs at Makerere University on either the day programme or the afternoon programme from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 2:00pm to 6:00pm, respectively.
He added that the Colleges will however be allowed to run evening programmes after filling the minimum enrollment on day and afternoon programmes.
“Following the University’s decision to allow continuing students to pursue their evening lessons, the administration has reached an agreement to continue remunerating staff offering services on the evening programme,” he said
The Vice Chancellor also decried the declining student numbers over the recent past years which he said, is worrying.
He also promised that the university management is doing all it can to increase the salaries of both members of staff and non-teaching staff.
He said the University Management Council communicated to staff that payment of staff incentives was not financially sustainable due to decline in revenue.
“It is important to note that Makerere University internally generated revenue has dropped from UGX 120 billion to UGX 90 billion over the period of ten years,” Nawangwe explained
Nawangwe also revealed that scrapping off the staff incentive was among the suggestions made by the Makerere University Visitation Committee in a report submitted to President Museveni by the Deputy Chairperson of the committee Justice Keturah Katunguka.
In the past there were numerous strikes by members of staff and non-academic staff over numeration, the last one which prompted the President to order the closure of the university.
