Universities suspend postgraduate academic programs at study centers

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Post graduate students at study centers of various universities in Masaka district can no longer have lessons from their campuses because of restructuring by the institutions. The universities with study centers in Masaka include Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala University and Muteesa I Royal University that operate campuses in Bwala, New Kumbu and Kirumba.

URN has established from reliable sources that the universities have suspended their postgraduate academic programs and some courses at the study centers citing sustainability challenges. Lillian Nalwanga, one of the students pursuing a postgraduate diploma in Public Administration at Kampala University, says she was suddenly instructed to shift to the main campus in Kampala if he wishes to continue with her studies.

Nalwanga says the changes have taken a huge toll on her in terms of transport and accommodation costs she incurs whenever she travels for studies. Uganda Martyrs University also scrapped most postgraduate programs at its study Centre in Bwala and only left Business Administration and Education Management.

The remaining students were asked to relocate to the main campus. A university official who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity so as to speak freely on the matter, said some master’s students decided to suspend their studies when they were directed to move to the campus in Rubaga in Kampala.

The situation isn’t any different from Muteesa Royal University. The university administration has closed some departments at its Main campus in Kirumba Masaka after failing to attract a reasonable number of students to sustain the courses.

The affected courses include Mass Communication and Journalism, Business Management and Administration. The students who were on the course have since been instructed to move to the campus at Kakeeka in Mengo.

The Communication Officer of Muteesa I Royal University, Joseph Lukyamuzi confirmed the decision, saying the university council resolved to stop the courses to cut costs of their operations.

Muhiire Kanamasiro, the Director of Studies Kampala University, says they were also forced to halt the postgraduate and Master’s course because of associated costs.

He explains that besides the limited facilities to support effective teaching of the post graduate students, they were also facing difficulties to finance the routine movement of lectures to the up country study centers.

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URN