On August 16, 2024, the Finance, Planning, Administration, and Investment Committee (FPAIC) of Makerere University Council held an interactive meeting with the management and administrative staff of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) to review the utilization of the 2023/2024 financial year budget. The visit aimed to evaluate any budgetary shortfalls, ensure compliance with established procedures, and set the stage for improved financial management.

The FPAIC team, led by Chair Mr. Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, included Dr. Diana Atenyi Ahumuza, Mr. Julius Katerega, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nanyonga-Tamusuza, and Mr. Lubowa S. Gyaviira. The meeting, held in the college’s Block A conference room, focused on the allocation and utilization of funds, reviewing performance reports for both main and off-budget expenditures, and addressing compliance issues.

FPAIC Chair Mr. Bruce Kabaasa described the meeting as an interaction to confirm the proper use of allocated funds. “We are here to confirm that you received the budget we allocated to you as a college for the last financial year and that that budget was used to facilitate various processes with physical results,” Kabaasa said. He added, “Every year you send us budget performance reports. We now want to confirm that indeed equipment was bought, training occurred, and teaching materials reached their recipients.”

Kabaasa further emphasized the importance of verifying the existence and proper management of grants. “We are here to confirm that the narrations we have heard about development partners or grants are indeed there and reported,” he stated. He also highlighted the need for grant management processes to adhere to established frameworks, adding, “We want to ensure that centers follow the establishment framework within the university, and if they are not, then there are plans to formalize and run them according to established rules.”

CoCIS Principal Prof. Tonny Oyana acknowledged key researchers who have secured substantial funding, including Dr. Rose Nakasi and Prof. Engineer  Bainomugisha, who attracted significant grants from Google. “The productivity of faculty has gone up, with 88 publications reported,” Oyana noted. “We graduated 666 students, including two PhDs and 18 Masters, and we are focusing on increasing graduate school enrollment.”

Oyana also highlighted some challenges, including issues with extra load payments, contract staff and short courses. “We realized about 500 million this year and allocated 100 million into the new budget,” Oyana said. He urged the committee to be considerate in budget decisions and mentioned that internally generated funds are used to fill budget gaps. “Private students attract income for the university, and a number of private schools are increasingly benchmarking the college as offering the best programs,” he added.

Bursar CPA Francisco Angida presented the budget performance report.. The key challenges highlighted during the meeting included significant human resource shortages affecting the main budget, with some departments being heavily understaffed. Underfunding and delayed release of funds were identified as critical issues that impacted essential activities such as the recess term, internships, and curriculum reviews. Additionally, there are capacity limitations in handling the increasing number of graduate students, leading to a significant increase in the project or research supervision load for existing qualified supervisors, along with both internal and external examination loads.

Manager GAMSU Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nanyonga-Tamusuza urged staff to ensure timely quarterly reporting and proper registration of projects within the system. “We need to manage project overheads effectively and ensure proper accountability and adherence to the distribution policy,” she said.

The FPAIC holds several key responsibilities within Makerere University, including reviewing and approving budget estimates, overseeing banking and investment operations, monitoring expenditures, and proposing fees and rates. The committee also maintains inventory, reviews staff establishments, and recommends terms of service and salary scales. Additionally, it coordinates staff development programs and ensures university statutes comply with the law.

By Jane Anyango,

 Communication Officer