LIST: Makerere university admits 1,500 students on government
Makerere University main building. The institution has admitted at least 1,566 students who sat last year’s Senior Six national examinations to join the institution next academic year on government scholarship. File photo
KAMPALA. Makerere University has admitted at least 1,566 students who sat last year’s Senior Six national examinations to join the institution next academic year on government scholarship.
The academic year starts in August.
The list, that Saturday Monitor has accessed, shows 1,288 students will study at the main campus, while the institution’s affiliate Makerere University Business School (Mubs) at Nakawa will take 278 students. However, the list lacks admissions to Bachelors of Law.
Mr Charles Ssentongo, the deputy academic registrar, said pre-entry exam results are not yet out for students who want to study Law at the university.
“We are still marking because the exams were sat last week. Those who applied should not worry. When the marking is complete, we will consider them on the government scheme if they qualify,” Mr Ssentongo said.
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery has the highest number of students, with a total of 82 students, followed by Bachelor of Science with Education (Physical) and Bachelor of Science with Education (Biological), each taking 70 students.
Bachelor of Commerce at Mubs leads with 56 students, followed by Bachelor of Business Administration with 48 slots.
Mr Ssentongo explained that they worked on only students joining their university since the Public Universities Joint Admission Board (Pujab) was declared illegal. However, he said the different academic registrars from the six public universities, with advice from the Ministry of Education, sat together to look at the list to avoid double admissions.
Pujab was declaired illegal in a High Court ruling by Justice Yasin Nyanzi in 2014. This followed a petition by Mr John Manzi, a former student of Naalya SS who sued Makerere University for refusing to admit him to pursue a career in law on account that he had not applied for the course through Pujab.
In an earlier interview, Ms Jessica Alupo, the Education minister, told Saturday Monitor that admissions to universities and other tertiary institutions would be handled by a committee she instituted to deal with university admissions until government finalises on Pujab.
Government supports 4,000 students every year joining public universities. At least 75per cent of these are admitted on academic merit competed nationally for disciplines identified as critical for national development, while 25per cent go for talent (40 slots), persons with disabilities (64 slots) and the district quota system, which takes 896 students. Makerere University takes at least half of the overall share.
