President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Minister of Education Janet Museveni to start the process that will lead to the takeover of two private universities.
In the, the President directed Mrs. Museveni to ensure Mountains of the Moon and Busoga University become public higher learning institutions.
“I am writing to direct you to take over two private universities which some of our people acting in good faith, started many years ago. The two universities are Mountains of the Moon and Busoga University,” Museveni’s letter to the education minister, reads in part.
According to Mr. Museveni the takeover of the two universities will boost higher learning opportunities in the country.
‘We have already started public universities in West Nile Acholi, Lango, Teso,Ankole, Bukedi, Kabale and Kampala. This covers 10 of the 18 zones. Taking on the Mountains of the Moon and. Busoga University would increase the coverage to 12. Of course we already have Namasagali as a breach of Busitema. Therefore, in the new effort, we would have to link Namasagali with the Busoga University,’ the President wrote.
However, the President expressed dismay at the way the private universities have been operating, blaming some of them for admitting inadequately qualified first year students.
‘I heard of the talk that some of the private universities admit unqualified entrants into first year and that they contract unqualified debts. The debts should be audited by the Auditor General. The unqualified entrants should never have been allowed even when the universities were private,’ he said.
Mr. Museveni added: ‘Neither public nor private institutions are allowed to admit under qualified entrants. This is the job for Council for Higher Education. If necessary, we shall seek a supplementary budget to cope with this issue’.
