Infrastructure and Personnel Shortages Impede University Advancement, Says Vice-Rector In a recent interview, the vice-rector of a leading university expressed concerns over the institution’s development due to severe infrastructure and personnel deficits. “Our university has grown rapidly in recent years, but our infrastructure and staffing levels have not kept pace,” stated the vice-rector. “This is creating significant challenges in our ability to provide high-quality education and research.” The infrastructure deficit includes limited classroom space, inadequate laboratory facilities, and outdated technological equipment. These deficiencies hamper teaching and research activities, especially in areas requiring specialized facilities. For example, students in engineering and science programs may lack access to essential equipment, hindering their practical training. The personnel deficit is also a major concern. The university has been unable to recruit and retain qualified faculty members, particularly in emerging disciplines and those requiring specialized expertise. This shortage leads to increased workloads for existing faculty, reduced course offerings, and a decline in research productivity. The consequences of these deficits extend beyond the university itself. They have a negative impact on the local economy, as qualified graduates are less likely to be produced and research findings are not adequately translated into practical applications. “We need urgent investment in our infrastructure and staffing to address these critical challenges,” emphasized the vice-rector. “Without these improvements, our university will struggle to maintain its reputation and competitiveness.” The university has initiated discussions with stakeholders, including government agencies and industry partners, to seek support for addressing these deficits. However, the vice-rector cautioned that significant efforts and resources will be required to overcome these challenges and ensure the university’s long-term success.Vice-rector for Academic Affairs Prof. George Kyama has identified inadequate infrastructure and shortage of personnel as major challenges facing the development of public universities in Uganda. Speaking during the 13th Congregation of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in Kampala on Friday (July 15), Prof. Kyama said Uganda’s public universities are still operating below their optimal capacity due to these challenges. “The major challenges that face the development of our public universities include huge infrastructure deficits and inadequate human resource,” he said, adding: “The lack of adequate infrastructure has limited the universities’ ability to admit more students and expand their academic programs.” He also noted that the shortage of qualified academic staff is a major hindrance to the delivery of quality education in public universities. “The staff-student ratio in our public universities is still very high, which means that lecturers are overstretched and unable to give students the individual attention they need,” he said. Prof. Kyama called on the government to increase funding for public universities in order to address these challenges. “The government needs to increase its investment in public universities if we want to improve the quality of education and increase access to higher education for all Ugandans,” he said. The vice-rector also urged private individuals and organizations to support public universities through donations and partnerships. “We need to encourage private individuals and organizations to support public universities through donations and partnerships. This support can help us to address the challenges we face and improve the quality of education in our universities,” he said.