KAMPALA- Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju has revealed that professors in Uganda have turned into fortune hunters instead of campaigning to offer leadership to Uganda.
The Kira Municipality MP made the remarks this morning while appearing on NBS Television during the topical discussion on announcement by former Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Venansius Baryamureeba that God had sent him to join NRM.
During a graduation ceremony for Ibanda university on Friday, former presidential candidate Baryamureeba said God had told him to join NRM and was quoted saying, “I have been having a close discussion with my God for the last two years and we have agreed together that I should join NRM as my political party.”
When asked on whether he was surprised with Prof Baryamureeba’s move to NRM, Ssemujju claimed to have learnt of the Professor’s move yesterday, adding that the only reason the subject has attracted debate is because Baryamureeba is a former Vice-Chancellor but other than that, his move isn’t worth discussion.
Ssemujju further added that the country should be involved in a debate on how to make Uganda better and it should be led by professors. “Increasingly, they (Professors) have become fortune hunters and that’s a disappointment. I’m expressing disappointment in professors like Baryamureeba and Kamulegeya. You should be campaigning to offer this country leadership but instead, you’re joining a group that is doing things that I’ve been listing as hindrances,” Ssemujju remarked.
He didn’t fall short of registering regrets of thinking highly of Baryamureeba stating that he was one of those who had been made to believe that Baryamureeba was an asset, and during his journalism days, he even went to interview him during his Vice-Chancellor days.
“Someone of Baryamureeba’s caliber should be discussing issues affecting this country and giving us solutions, but he also wants to join the table which is disappointing. He is shaming the title of a professor,” Ssemujju said.
However, Ssemujju’s remarks infuriated Baryamureeba who called out members of the opposition for having double standards.
Baryamureeba said: “Anyone who joins another party is okay and is seen doing the right thing. But when you join the NRM, then that’s not okay. Joining NRM is a personal conviction and we should give people the benefit of doubt. I’m going to make a major contribution to the party, just wait and see.”
The professor also cautioned people against looking at President Yoweri Museveni as the NRM, arguing that the ruling party is an institution, revealing that he is soon going to start rubbing shoulders with the big shots in NRM and vowed never to leave the party.
Baryamureeba further urged Ugandans to embrace his new political move asserting that since 2015, he not been in any political party but he has finally joined NRM because God has guided him.
“There’s a General feeling in the opposition that any intelligent person shouldn’t join NRM but I’m joining NRM to help them do better. Parties accommodate everybody provided you share the same ideology. I don’t just belong, I first pray about an issue and get guidance from God. I’m joining NRM in principal,” the professor said.
