The Speaker of
Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has committed to follow up on a petition by alumni
and students from Busoga University, in a bid to expedite Government
involvement in the academic growth of the university.
“The Committee [Education] will invite you for a hearing. We
are going to process the necessary papers and take them to the plenary,” Kadaga
said.
The Speaker made the remarks while receiving a petition from
Bais Godfrey Ndada, the Chairperson of the Busoga University Alumni Association
on Monday.
Among the matters for action included a call to Government
through the Ministry of Education and Sports, to fast-track the takeover of
Busoga University as well as investigate allegations of a revoked license of
the institution.
Ndada told the Speaker of unknown officials from Government
who had spread false information about the institution’s capacity to carry out
academic affairs and had failed to follow up on a Presidential directive.
“On 08 January 2018, the President directed the Minister for
Education to take over Busoga University. But a year on, some people have moved
to fail progress on this directive,” Ndada said.
He also told the Speaker of allegations that the university
was accepting undergraduate students without minimum qualifications, which had
tarnished the good image of the institution.
“National Council for Higher Education on Monday alleged that
Busoga University admits students without the minimum entry requirements. If
students do not have these requirements, why are they relocating to other
universities,” asked Ndada.
He called on Parliament to investigate the closure of the
institution of higher learning in Busoga, as well as direct the Education
Minister to halt relocation of students from the University to other
institutions.
The media has been rife with stories about the Government’s
plan to take over the University, which hit a snag upon discovery that the
university had mortgaged its land and other assets for shs2.6 billion loan in
April 2016.
The mortgaged assets include Plots 73 and 83 in Kigulu,
Buwooya in Iganga District in the name of Busoga University; and plot 95-111 on
Saza Road in Bugiri measuring 8.174 acres with a leasehold of 49 years and 12
postdated cheques.
