Students At Risk: Dilapidated Halls & Broken Toilets Plague Kyambogo University

By Frank Kamuntu

Parliament has expressed serious concern over chronic staffing shortages at Kyambogo University, where only 32% of positions are filled, forcing heavy reliance on part-time lecturers. The understaffing has also fueled the University’s domestic debt, which soared to UGX 23.29 billion by June 2024.

The concerns were highlighted by Gorreth Namugga, Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), while presenting the Committee’s report on the Auditor General’s December 2024 findings on public universities during the September 9, 2025 plenary sitting.

Namugga warned that the acute understaffing compromises teaching quality, overstretches lecturers, and undermines the University’s mandate. She also blamed delays in reviewing the staff structure and criticized the Ministry of Education’s inspectorate for failing to identify the gaps early.

Auditor General’s Findings

Auditor General Edward Akol reported significant disparities between Kyambogo’s approved staff establishment and actual staffing across 104 departments, leaving 1,653 positions unfilled. Teaching roles were most affected, with only 32% of posts occupied, while positions such as teaching assistants and principal technicians had no permanent staff at all.

The staffing crisis has forced the University to depend on part-time and temporary workers, increasing arrears. By June 2024, domestic debt rose from an opening balance of UGX 19.95 billion to UGX 23.29 billion, despite paying UGX 9.8 billion during the year, with new arrears of UGX 13.14 billion.

Kyambogo University management acknowledged staffing stood at 32% due to limited wage provisions. Additional government funding increased the wage bill from UGX 61.17 billion to UGX 67.17 billion in FY 2024/25, enabling recruitment of up to 3,570 staff. However, this still falls short of the required numbers.

The University revealed that its staff establishment is scheduled for review in the third and fourth quarters of FY 2025/26 to address gaps and emerging needs. Parliament has urged the University to fast-track the review and called on the Ministry of Finance to provide adequate wage funding. Lawmakers also tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports with strengthening supervision and monitoring of university operations.

Namugga stressed that persistent arrears indicate weak fiscal management and poor internal controls, warning that the growing debt threatens budget credibility and exposes the University to potential litigation.

Dilapidated Infrastructure

The Auditor General also flagged the poor state of student residences and other infrastructure. Halls of residence were found with broken or missing toilets, leaking plumbing, cracked walls, and damaged roofs. The West-End main building has been condemned and out of use for over five years due to safety risks.

Kyambogo University said it prepared Bills of Quantities worth UGX 9.2 billion in April 2022 following a presidential directive on renovations, which were submitted to the Ministry of Finance. However, no funding has been released, including for the main hall approved by the Ministry’s Development Committee.

Namugga warned that inadequate accommodation undermines student welfare and poses health and safety risks. PAC recommended prioritizing renovations and called on government to release funds to implement the President’s directive.