KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni has warned lecturers and students that public universities are not places for strikes.
Speaking during Kyambogo University’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, the President said universities are centres of intellectualism and said those seeking to cause chaos should go elsewhere.
“I wish to thank the university management for stabilizing and developing this university, I must remind you that this is an address for study, not for rioting. If you want to riot, you must find some other places. This is a place for learning, discussion and intellectuality not a center of bad manners,” he said.
The Head of State also hailed the university for scientific innovations after touring a number of stalls where students showcased their inventions.
‘I want to commend Kyambogo for waking up. They have started inventing a number of machines and processing the raw materials to finished goods. Other Ugandans should borrow a leave from them,” Museveni said.
To this, he reiterated the need to phase out what he called irrelevant arts courses.
“These SWASAs, I don’t like them and conflict resolutions. What are they?. I do not think you should be teaching them. Our development plans emphasizes the production of high quality graduates in disciplines which lead to national and regional development,” Mr Museveni said.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Elly Katunguka, highlighted a number of challenges faced by the institution such as understaffing.
“Your Excellency, despite numerous achievements, the university still faces a number of challenges which would need the intervention of government. For instance, understaffing remains a challenge because we have a lean structure and depends largely on part time lecturers. We request for Sh10b to recruit extra staff needed to bring establishment of academic staff to at least 50 per cent,” Prof Katunguka said.
The graduation ceremony which ends on Friday will see the university graduate a total of 8,892 graduands of whom 4,877 are Males and 4,015 are females.
