Top technocrats in East African region have identified Ugandan University short on training facilities.
The minister of state for education for higher institutions John Chrysostom Muyingo presented a statement on a report by a technical team of the East African Community alleging that some medical and dental schools in Uganda have inadequate facilities to train and graduate medical and dental practitioners.
Muyingo who presented the report during Parliament’s plenary session, revealed: “The joint inspection team recommended suspension of admissions at Uganda Christian University school of dentistry, Makerere University Dental school, Busitema University Medical School and St Augustine International University until recommendations are fully met.”
He stated: “The 3rd joint inspection of medical and dental schools and teaching hospitals in Uganda was carried out by technical experts in the East African Community Partner states from 10 to 14 February 2020.”
The minister said: “The inspection was aimed at establishing conformity of universities to the standards and guidelines governing the medical and dental schools in the EAC.”
Muyingo explained: “The existing schools produce about 500 doctors and 25 dentists annually. It is against this background that NCHE has emphasized a spirit of nurturing our schools rather than closure as a measure of first instance when evaluating a five year programme.”
He argued: “The recommendations of the inspection team were intended to improve the quality of medical and dental training in Uganda so as to ensure that graduates from the institutions are eligible for reciprocal recognition with the EAC partner states.”
He urged: “We appeal to Parliament to appropriate more funds to Universities so that they can address the shortcomings highlighted by the Jumuiya team of health experts.”
State Minister of Mineral Development, Sarah Opendi said that the Makerere University Dental school did not follow the earlier recommendations made during the two inspections made prompting the joint Jumuiya to suspend the admissions.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
