Makerere University is withholding students' academic documents to recover Shs13 billion in outstanding fees, the institution's management told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on 26 October 2026. University Secretary and Accounting Officer Yusuf Kiranda explained that the university needed to recover the money to keep running, but the practice drew scrutiny from MPs who questioned whether it was lawful and whether it could prevent graduates from securing employment and earning money to clear their fees.
The committee, chaired by Patrick Nsamba Oshabe, raised concerns across multiple areas of university operations. On sexual harassment, officials said reported cases had been dealt with decisively, with staff dismissed on those grounds and the most recent case being processed by the university's disciplinary committee. The committee also questioned restrictions on political activities at Freedom Square, a space historically used for student gatherings. University management defended the policy, saying restrictions had helped reduce strikes, and noted that advance booking for meetings had been introduced to address clashes over venue use.
Financial accountability emerged as a significant concern. MPs questioned why approximately Shs200 billion remained unspent at the close of the financial year and had not been returned to the Consolidated Fund as required by the Public Finance Management Act. Officials said the funds were tied to ongoing commitments but reportedly struggled to provide a full explanation. The committee also faulted the university for appearing without its work plan, prompting Nsamba to order that the university planner be handed to Parliament's Criminal Investigations Department until the work plan was provided.
Academic standards compliance also drew criticism. The committee questioned the viability of seven accredited programmes that attracted no students during the review period. MPs also raised concerns over a postgraduate programme that admitted 337 students beyond the maximum enrolment limit approved by the National Council for Higher Education, without seeking a review or renewal of its accreditation. The committee described this admission as illegal and questioned why the university had failed to comply with relevant requirements.