Makerere University has recently introduced two advanced biometric management systems aimed at overseeing staff and student attendance within the institution.
The Digital Staff Access System and Student Attendance System were officially unveiled during a concise ceremony held at the College of Computing and Information Science. These systems have already been deployed at all teaching facility entrances.
Unlike traditional biometric setups, the system at Makerere captures both facial features and thumbprints. According to Samuel Mugabi, the Director of Information Technology Services, the system has been integrated with the students’ platform, allowing learners to report lecturers who are absent from class.
Mugabi further explained that the system is interconnected with the university’s e-learning environment and timetable system. When lecturers check in for classes, the system automatically generates a Quick Response (QR) Code for students to scan and confirm their attendance.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, emphasized that the new system will aid in monitoring staff absenteeism and detecting fraudulent practices. He highlighted a case where a lecturer relocated to Addis Ababa for over two years without formally resigning but continued to receive a salary from Makerere.
Nawangwe also mentioned that the staff access system is synchronized with the timetable system, enabling it to track instances where lecturers check into the teaching building but fail to attend classes, a persistent challenge faced by the university.
He expressed optimism that the system would help enforce a university policy requiring students to attend at least 60 percent of lectures to be eligible for examinations, addressing previous issues of attendance falsification.
Emojong Kasaija, the Guild Information Minister representing the Guild President, welcomed the system for its ability to monitor student attendance without forgery, unlike previous methods.
However, over the past seven months, lecturers, through their umbrella body MUASA, have opposed the Attendance Management System, citing concerns over more effective methods to monitor academic staff performance and productivity.
Among the primary grievances voiced by staff is the perceived lack of adequate consultation and stakeholder engagement before implementing the biometric system, fearing it could undermine the university’s mission.
Additionally, academic staff argued that the Biometric Attendance Management system overly focuses on monitoring staff presence from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., neglecting diverse outputs such as teaching, research, publications, and community service.
In response, Nawangwe stated that lecturers intending to engage in field research should inform their department heads for exemption. According to the Makerere University Human Resource Manual, any lecturer who spends 10 working days without informing their supervisor is assumed to have absconded, and the punishment is dismissal.
