Uganda biomedical labs were in bad shape, below what we expect medical schools to have,” says Dr. Ayub Twaha.
By Exponent News Akure
MBARARA, UGANDA — That blunt assessment by the deputy chair of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council starkly captures the crisis threatening the future of medical education in Uganda.
When Robert first walked into Mbarara University of Science and Technology—Uganda’s second-oldest public university—he believed he was entering a prestigious institution that had produced some of the country’s finest doctors. But what he found instead was a system buckling under pressure.
Despite a growing student population, the university’s biomedical laboratories are poorly equipped and overcrowded. Basic equipment like centrifuges and test tubes are insufficient, often shared among multiple students during practical sessions.
“We end up not getting enough skills,” said Robert, a second-year medical student, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. “I fear I’ll have to relearn everything after graduating just to be able to treat patients properly.”
The university’s crumbling facilities came under renewed scrutiny in March after a joint inspection by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and the National Council for Higher Education. It was their fifth such visit, and the findings were consistent: chronic underfunding, lack of proper lab equipment, and stalled maintenance.
Twaha confirmed the council even considered suspending new admissions due to the poor state of Mbarara’s biomedical labs.
A Systemic Crisis Rooted in Policy Change
Experts say the crisis isn’t unique to Mbarara. It reflects a larger, systemic issue rooted in a 2019 financial policy reform. The new directive mandated that tuition fees from students in all public universities be paid directly to the Uganda Revenue Authority, rather than directly to the universities themselves.
The funds are later disbursed back to the institutions by the government, in tranches.
While the government claims the policy has improved accountability and tripled revenue, university officials argue that it has crippled their operations. Without direct access to their own funds, institutions struggle with delays and uncertainty in financing critical needs, including lab maintenance and instructional materials.
“It takes time, and even then, the money isn’t all given at once,” Twaha lamented.
At Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public institution, similar issues persist. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, a professor and dean in the School of Economics, said the funding model has led to the cancellation of evening classes at the law school and the shutdown of several short courses.
Delayed Funds, Diminished Standards
The Ministry of Finance admits that the funding model can be slow, but insists it’s effective. Hannington Ashaba, the acting director of budget, says the delays are due to the country’s “cash-based” budget system.
“The pocket is sometimes empty,” added senior economist Francis Muhumuza. “If there is money, the government typically processes funding requests within three days.”
However, for medical students like Edward at Mbarara, those delays translate to disrupted learning, inadequate training, and dim career prospects—especially beyond Uganda.
“There are few jobs in Uganda,” Edward said. “If we can’t practice outside the country, we may remain unemployed or be forced to change professions.”
The regional consequences could be significant. East African nations currently recognize each other’s medical qualifications, but experts like Dr. Twaha warn that poor infrastructure and training standards could jeopardize that arrangement.
The Risk to Public Health
“This is not just about students or universities,” said Dr. Peter Waiswa, a public health expert at Makerere University. “When you fail to train competent medical professionals, the entire health care system suffers.”
Waiswa says trust is key. “The government must begin to trust its institutions again—to give them autonomy over their resources.”
Failure to do so, he warns, will not only cost Uganda its academic standing, but also risk the lives and health of the more than 48 million citizens who rely on a functional medical system.
As the country debates reform, the stakes remain high—not just for Robert, Edward, and their classmates, but for Uganda’s future.
