Public Financial Management

A Case of Public Universities in Uganda

Abstract

The study addressed Public Finance Management (PFM) in
Public Universities in Uganda. PMF, also called the public
sector economics, is the government’s strategy for managing
revenue, expenditure and taxation. It oversees how the
government’s cash flow planning, coordination and investment
are managed. The study delved to identify funding sources of
public universities in Uganda; evaluated the current financial
management practices within Public Universities in Uganda;
examined the transparency and accountability mechanisms
used for financial transactions within Public Universities
in Uganda; discussed challenges encountered by public
universities in Public Finance Management; and proposed
recommendations for enhancing the overall public financial
management system. Data collection strategy included
extensive desk reviews of documents and previous researches
on higher education. The study was purely qualitative and
was conducted both face-to-face and online. In its findings,
the study established various sources of funding for Public
Universities in Uganda; confirmed that there is drastic decline
and untimely funding to Public Universities in Uganda;
highlighted the incidences of mismanagement and lack of
transparency; and enumerated the challenges encountered
by the sub-sector in Public Finance Management. The study
concluded that there is drastic decline and untimely funding
of Public Universities. Secondly, it noted that low and
untimely funding negatively impact on achievement of the Universities’ core functions. Thirdly, it was established that
funds injected into Universities are mismanaged and lack
proper accountabilities. In its recommendations, the study
proposed that the Universities should strengthen their Public
Private Partnership engagements; carry out timely audits;
reinforce their staff capacities in teaching and research as well
as in publications and align public universities’ funding to be
performance-based; and lastly, position Public Universities
to be more innovative so that the economy continues to grow,
remain viable and sustainable.