Lawmakers Advocate for Student Innovations to Boost Public University Funding

Lawmakers have advised that public universities should capitalize on student innovations to generate revenue for sustaining higher education institutions. They argue that such resources would significantly supplement the seemingly overstretched national budget.

This recommendation emerged during discussions on the report of the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) regarding the Auditor General’s assessment of public universities for the fiscal year ending in June 2022. The report was presented by Hon. Frederick Angura, a member of the committee representing Tororo South County, during a plenary session on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

The report highlights how the insufficiency of government funding negatively affects the execution of planned activities at the institutional and national levels. Hon. Angura attributed the funding gap to inadequate support for the universities’ budgets, primarily due to poor budget performance. In certain institutions like Kyambogo University, vital activities suffered due to budget reductions.

On a related note, Hon. James Baba (NRM, Koboko County) emphasized the need for the government to commercialize research areas developed by scientists, citing the success of Makerere University’s Kiira electronic vehicle project. He particularly highlighted the software sector, where recent graduates are contributing significantly. Baba drew a parallel with Japan, where government investment in human resources has resulted in the production of renowned modern electronics and vehicles.

Hon. Simon Peter Okwalinga (NRM, Kanyum County) encouraged university professors to seek funding through proposal writing. He cited Prof. Patrick Ogwang of Mbarara University of Science as an example, whose research proposal on Covid-19 secured funding. He expressed uncertainty about whether the report adequately reflected such external funding sources, which could significantly augment government support.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa endorsed the idea that each university should establish overhead policies, drawing inspiration from American universities. Tayebwa emphasized the potential of project overheads as a substantial source of funding for public universities, warranting further consideration.

Hon. Agnes Ameede, the Butebo district woman MP, suggested the renovation and privatization of halls of residence to generate income. She proposed that universities should privatize and manage these facilities to hotel standards, mirroring the practice in other universities that successfully generate revenue through this means.

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