Members of the Rwandan Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is responsible for overseeing the use of public resources, have commended the University of Rwanda (UR) for implementing a significant number of recommendations issued during its previous audit.
On Friday, the university’s leadership, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Didas Kayihura, appeared before the committee to respond to issues raised by the Auditor General in a recent audit of the university’s operations.
The university provided explanations on various issues, acknowledging progress made while also pointing out that some challenges require adequate funding, time, and technical expertise to resolve.
Addressing concerns that some lecturers are overburdened while others have lighter workloads despite having similar qualifications and salaries, Prof. Kayihura explained that teaching loads depend on course structure, expertise, and pay grade. However, he noted that a solution has been found.
He said: “There will be a redistribution of teaching loads across colleges so that those with fewer hours can pick up more classes elsewhere, and those with heavier schedules can get some relief.”
The University of Rwanda is a merger of 14 former institutions, now operating under a unified governance framework.
Regarding the issue of lacking an appropriate internal operational document, the university leadership explained that the existing document needed to be reviewed and adapted to suit the institutional setup of a national university.
The institution employs over 1,300 individuals with diverse expertise and contractual frameworks, all of whom must be governed by appropriate internal regulations.
Nevertheless, PAC applauded the university for obtaining legal status, which allowed it to begin establishing its own internal policies and operational guidelines.
PAC Chairperson, MP Valens Muhakwa, said: “Now that you have the legal framework, the next step is to set up internal regulations to govern your institution.”
On research matters, Prof. Kayihura noted that the university has two research streams: one conducted by lecturers and another by students. Student research is part of coursework supervised by lecturers, while faculty research can either be individually driven or tied to institutional projects supported by external funding.
Some lecturers submit their proposals to foreign universities to seek partnerships and attract support from interested institutions.
UR assured the committee that these processes are being streamlined and improvements are underway, so similar issues will not recur in future audits.
Regarding the university’s procurement activities during the audited fiscal year, the leadership reported that UR awarded 161 tenders worth over Rwf 52 billion.
While PAC raised concerns over delays in the implementation and auditing of some contracts, the university attributed this to the fact that many contractors lacked sufficient experience, particularly in specialized areas such as research and laboratory equipment supply.
One university official stated: “It’s challenging to monitor these projects because some contractors lack the capacity. However, we are now focusing on working with competent local firms. A recent law has also set a strict deadline for implementing these projects and prioritizes sourcing materials from within the country.”
In response to questions on how the university intends to manage its vast property portfolio scattered across the country, officials said the volume of assets necessitates a phased approach.
The university currently owns assets worth over Rwf 350 billion across 10 campuses. This extensive property base increases maintenance costs and requires careful mobilization of staff and resources.
They noted that renovations have already been completed at the Huye campus and some facilities in Nyagatare, totaling more than Rwf 2 billion in value.
UR owns 709 buildings, 154 land plots, and several other assets that cannot all be renovated simultaneously.
MP Muhakwa expressed satisfaction with the explanations provided and said he trusts the university will follow through on its promises. He urged the leadership to move beyond discussions and focus on concrete actions.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining and protecting university property, and the need to formalize internal regulations.
Prof. Kayihura concluded by pledging to implement the committee’s recommendations and to return next time with tangible progress to show.
