Makerere University, Uganda’s largest higher education institution, is on its knees struggling with significant disruptions in its operations. This follows the ongoing suspension of U.S. financial assistance to the country.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe confirmed that the freeze has had severe consequences, particularly in the health sector.
“The U.S. aid suspension is a serious setback for Makerere, given our substantial financial support from American institutions,” Prof. Nawangwe said, adding that it has affected many of the university’s activities, especially in healthcare.
Among the hardest-hit units are the School of Public Health, the College of Health Sciences, and the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), a non-profit based at the university.
The IDI plays a critical role in Uganda’s fight against HIV, providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 20% of the country’s HIV patients. ART helps suppress the virus, improve immune function, and reduce transmission rates.
The aid freeze has forced the university to cut back on essential programs, leading to the temporary layoff of over 200 staff members, primarily from the School of Public Health.
“We have had to scale down or suspend some activities while we wait for the 90-day review period to end,” Nawangwe explained. “I remain hopeful that the final decision will not permanently affect health-related programs.”
The funding cut has also impacted research, delaying key studies for both students and lecturers.
“The affected units have had to pause activities and put some staff on hold,” he added. “We hope that research will resume once the review is completed.”
Prof. Nawangwe stressed that these programs play a vital role in Uganda’s healthcare system, warning that a permanent withdrawal of U.S. funding would leave the university with little choice but to seek financial support from the Ugandan government.
“The College of Health Sciences provides critical services to the government. If this funding is permanently cut, we will have to turn to Parliament for additional resources,” he said.
Despite financial challenges, Makerere University recently acquired three Isuzu buses from Japan, each costing UGX 625 million.
Prof. Nawangwe unveiled the vehicles at a press briefing, emphasizing their importance in student transport.
Initially, the university planned to purchase the buses from Uganda’s Kiira Motors under the “Buy Uganda, Build Uganda” (BUBU) policy.
However, delays in production forced them to seek an alternative supplier to avoid losing government-allocated funds.
“The old buses were in poor mechanical condition, putting students’ lives at risk,” Nawangwe said. “This is a significant relief, and we appreciate Parliament’s support in prioritizing student transport and training.”
The new buses will primarily serve students in medicine, agriculture, and veterinary programs.
Medical students rely on transport to reach hospitals like Kiruddu and Kawempe, following Makerere’s reduced reliance on Mulago Hospital due to its specialization shift.
Agriculture students will use the buses for field training at locations such as Kabanyoro, Nakyesasa, and Buyana, while veterinary students will travel to farms where they conduct practical work.
As the 90-day U.S. aid review continues, Makerere University remains hopeful that funding for health programs will be reinstated.
In the meantime, affected staff and research programs must endure temporary disruptions, with the university exploring alternative funding sources to sustain operations.
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