KAMPALA – The Shadow Minister for Education, Mathias Mpuuga has asked the Parliamentary Education Committee to probe allegations by top officials from the Ministry of Education that students who participate in strikes at Makerere University are drug addicts.
Mpuuga made the demand today while appearing before the Education Committee that is investigating the violence that marred the university as students protested the 15% tuition increment.
The Masaka Municipality MP said that such a statement can easily deny students opportunities to have their issues addressed as Government seeks to defend itself of the atrocities the security forces committed against the students.
It should be recalled that in October, John C Muyingo, Minister of State for Higher Education told Parliament that the students at Makerere University who are protesting the 15% tuition increment are high on drugs.
“The situation at the university has been worsened by the now rampant abuse of drugs and other substances by sections of students. It is almost inconceivable that students would consider rioting at night, including taking riots to neighbouring suburbs like Kikoni, Nakulabye and Wandegeya,” Hon. Muyingo said in October 2019.
While appearing before the committee, Mpuuga also called for a recall of the State House Scholarship Fund and have the funds diverted towards subsidizing higher education to avert the burden put on students and parents
He defended his proposal arguing that the State House scholarship fund has turned selective and fallen short of transparency for students from poor backgrounds to access and instead have the said fund channelled through the students loan so as it benefits students who cannot afford the high university fees.
