President Yoweri Museveni has expressed his concern over the reported cases of insecurity at Makerere University, reportedly caused by failure to erect a perimeter fence. He assured the Makerere University community that the Government would solve the problem of the fence by having it constructed through the Ministry of Education.
The President was addressing the Makerere NRM Sub County Conference at the Freedom Square, Makerere University in Kampala. His comments follow reports of mysterious student deaths and attacks around the university.
During the meeting he received a copy of a book “The Fruits of the Mustard Seed” from the author Mr. Muhanguzi Rwigyema, who is a student at the University. He also received a copy of “The Power of Optimism”, written by a lecturer, Dr. Moses Lukwago.
The President in his remarks, said that education is a prerequisite to living modern lives and that the NRM introduced UPE with the aim of enlightening the people, adding that “we cannot remain peasants forever”.
“Education is a factor towards generating income and managing modern life. The NRM Government has practiced its leadership along four major principles namely the fight against sectarianism, Pan-Africanism, social economic transformation and democracy,” he said.
He said that NRM differs from the other political parties because it fights against sectarianism, adding that the colonialists added another problem of religious sectarianism in Uganda. He observed that at the time of Uganda’s independence in 1962 sectarianism was rife.
He stressed that a tribal identity is good for the promotion of languages and culture and observed that through the principle of Pan Africanism uganda was able to expand the market for its products.
He called on Ugandans to work for political and economic transformation of Uganda. He said that in order to have prosperity we must believe in Uganda and avoid tribal and religious
President Museveni observed that the NRM and majority of Ugandans fought for democracy and that Uganda helps other regional countries to restore order because `we have got internal strength’.
President Museveni called on the Makerere NRM branch to avoid cheap popularity and reminded the gathering that in 1986, government was generating revenue of only Ush 5 billion as compared to a collection of Ush 12 trillion in 2015.
The Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Mondo Kagonyera urged the University community to give the Government a chance to serve, while the Chairman of Makerere NRM Sub County Prof. Peter Baguma said the President had uplifted the social economic status of Ugandans. He also thanked President Museveni for restructuring the Ministry of Education and for introducing the Department of Technology.
The Makerere University Guild President David Bala Bwiruka said that the government had facilitated the lecturers with better remuneration, and thanked the president for the initiative.
