Kampala — Female staff at Makerere University have complained of sexual harassment.

Female students at the university also suffer similar abuse.

The revelations were made during a Self-Development Workshop for Makerere University senior female staff on Friday at Colline Hotel, Mukono.

The women accused male lecturers of forcing female students into sex as a pre-condition for helping them overcome academic problems.

Prof. Ruth Mukama, a senior lecturer in the University's Institute of Languages, said that many female workers at Makerere have fallen prey to the men who sexually exploit those with problems.

"We need to campaign against these immoral behaviours; why should we continue falling victims of sexual harassment when we can find remedies to it?" Ms Mukama asked.

She cited an incident under which one female student was denied a chance to enroll for a masters degree programme because the officer who was supposed to endorse her documents refused to consider her after they failed to agree on sexual matters.

She told participants that the girl chose to fly to the United Kingdom to pursue her studies there.

Mukama said that some lecturers deliberately ensure that some girls fail - and then force them into sexual relations so that they can be relieved from retaking examination papers.

She said that this is prevalent among final year students - where a failed paper could cost them the degree or chances of graduation.

Ms Maude Mugisha, a senior consultant on gender matters, said sexual harassment is not only at Makerere University but also in most all offices.

She promised to spearhead the move to lobby government to ensure strict punitive laws against forced sex for favours.

The assistant academic registrar in charge of gender mainstreaming, Associate Prof. Joy Kwesiga, said that the sex harassment issue will be tabled before the university administration so that laws against it can be enacted to protect female workers and students.

Kwesiga also said that the university is not yet so gender sensitive in providing jobs.

Only 20 percent of the University staff are women.