'Kyambogo staff shortage a threat to quality education'

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The outgoing chairperson of the Kyambogo University Council, Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo, has expressed concern over the shortage of staff, saying it poses a significant challenge to delivering quality education.

Nakabugo said that operating at just 35% staffing capacity is very low, and while Kyambogo may not be alone among public universities, that is no consolation.

While addressing the 6th University Council members, Nakabugo recommended: “You need to address these needs by increasing the wage bill, given the university's current 35% staffing level, which poses significant challenges for delivering quality education.”

Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo, outgoing university council expresses concerns about the shortage of Kyambogo staff during the handover ceremony of the 5th council at Hotel Africana on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

According to a report published by the 5th University Council, had the expected additional wage of sh62.7b for implementing the establishment structure been provided as planned, the university's total wage bill would have increased from sh58.66b in the financial year 2020/2021 to sh121.36b.

“This would have enabled the university to achieve a staffing level of 63.4%. However, the university achieved a cumulative increase of only sh8.5b on the wage bill in the financial years 2021/2022 to 2024/2025. This raised the total wage to sh67.17b in the financial year 2023/2025, which is just 35.1% of the cost structure,” explained Nakabugo.

Beyond the wage bill, Nakabugo also advised the governing council to resolve the persistent land issue, which is marked by numerous squatters and porous boundaries. She further urged the council to tackle the decline in webometric rankings, largely attributed to the ongoing data migration from the old Academic Management System (AIMS) to the newly designed Academic Management Information System (ACIMIS).

To have control over the development and use of this system, Nakabugo advised the university to ensure that ACIMIS is owned as university property.

She made the remarks during the handover ceremony from the 5th to the 6th Kyambogo University Council, held at Hotel Africana on April 6, 2025.

The University Council, as stipulated under Section 40(1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act Cap 262, serves as the supreme governing body responsible for the overall administration of the university.

Members of the 6th University Council include Assoc. Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen (Chairperson), Prof. Monica Chibita (Vice Chairperson), Prof. Joseph Mugisha, Prof. Eli Katunguka, Prof. Maria Musoke, Assoc. Prof. Justus Kwetegyeka, Eng. Christopher Ebal, Robert Bellarmine Okudi, Francis Muhumuza, Dr Peter Wanyama Obanda, and Prof. Josephine Ahikire.

Other members include Rev. Canon Grace Lubaale, Dr Wilberforce Okongo, John Sempebwa Kigonya, Lawrence Munyagwa, Kenneth Mbogo, Moses Atuhereize Barisigara, Sam Lutalo-Kiingi, Caleb Gumisiriza, Richard Deogratious Mubiru, and Eugene Pacelli Okello.

During the handover, Nakabugo noted that serving as chairperson was no easy task—it was a role she approached with passion and dedication.

On behalf of her colleagues, she expressed appreciation: “to the Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, for the privilege you granted us to steward the university on your behalf, as well as for the unwavering support you provided throughout the past four years.”

The Chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof. John Yakobo Okedi, urged the 6th Council to understand that leadership is not about individual interests but about the collective effort of all members to advance the mission and values of the university.

Addressing council members, Okedi advised them to be visionary and collaborative, and to make decisions that promote the well-being and success of students, staff, and other key stakeholders.

“In the next four years, the 6th University Council will play a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of this university. I have been informed that management will be presenting to the university council the next five-year strategic plan 2025/2026–2029/2030, in line with NDP IV and the NRM manifesto,” Okedi stated.

According to Okedi, the plan will focus on improving staffing levels from the current 37% to at least 50%. It will also emphasise integrating ICT into teaching and learning, timely review of academic programmes to meet the demands of an evolving job market, upgrading 8.8km of university roads to bitumen standard, and constructing a perimeter wall.

Other focus areas include streamlining business processes for greater efficiency and coordinating national and international partnerships for resource mobilisation.

Given the current stability at the university, the chairperson of the 6th Kyambogo University Council, Assoc. Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen urged incoming council members to protect this hard-earned peace and preserve it for future generations.

“I call upon all of you to join me and we team up to take this university to another level. We promise to do our best to preserve this excellence and promote it beyond the boundaries of Kyambogo University,” said Mangen.

Members of the 6th Council were sworn in on December 2, 2024, and the council was fully constituted on February 26, 2025.

Representing the Kyambogo Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eli Katunguka, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for academic affairs, Prof. Maria Musoke, acknowledged Nakabugo’s strategic leadership and her commitment to addressing concerns of both management and staff.

Since the university exists for staff and students, Musoke said that staying in touch with both groups helps prevent issues from escalating.

“The new strategic plan will focus on key issues including teaching and learning, research innovation and knowledge generation, physical infrastructure and ICT development, institutional capacity development, community engagement, strategic management and resource mobilisation,” Musoke concluded.