Academics condemn rule requiring lecturers to have PhDs

Makerere University Academic Staff Association Chairperson Dr Edson Kakuru has condemned a controversial university resolution that requires all assistant lecturers on permanent contracts to have a minimum of a doctorate of philosophy (PhD) qualification by 2027, writes Moses Jimmy Olara for Monitor.

This conflict traces its roots back to a 27 February letter written by Professor Umar Kakumba, the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs, and addressed to all assistant lecturers. “The appointments board at its 698th meeting held on October 24, noted that there were many assistant lecturers employed on permanent terms who had not attained the PhD qualification. The board agreed that: All assistant lecturers on permanent terms who had not yet embarked on their studies should do so immediately and must be given a four-year period within which to complete their studies,” the letter reads in part.

This grace period is to expire on 31 January 2027 and all the concerned parties that will not have completed by that time are set to have their contracts terminated, something that Kakuru disagrees with. He said as much as there are obvious good intentions behind the move, there are several stumbling blocks that the university must address first.
Full report on the Monitor site