Govt secures sh170b for universities

Feb 13, 2011

THE Government is to secure sh176b ($80m) from the African Development Bank for the development of public universities.

By Conan Businge

THE Government is to secure sh176b ($80m) from the African Development Bank for the development of public universities.

The funds, according to the education ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Francis-Xavier Lubanga, would be used to develop the universities; and work would start as soon as the funds were secured.

Lubanga made the revelation on Wednesday while meeting Makerere University Business School’s (MUBS) Council and management, during a tour of its sh10b library complex which is still under construction.

It is a six-storeyed complex, the only new block meant for study purposes, at the MUBS campus.

He was flanked by the school’s principal, Prof. Waswa Balunywa, and council boss Dr. Colin Ssentongo and other university officials.

The funds will be received under an additional funding from the African Development Fund. Lubanga, however, clarified that the funds would not necessarily be shared equally among the universities.

He added that funds from the fourth ADB; were received some time back and were used in the development of secondary schools and some institutions of higher learning.

Lubanga explained that some of the funds would be allocated to universities to specifically develop their infrastructures.

The business school’s estates manager, Julius Birungi, revealed that the library was being constructed using internally generated funds and support from the Government.

The lack of a library has been one of the School’s hindrances from getting a university status.

Lubanga, when asked for his official view about the school’s university status, said that, “it is no longer a question of whether, but that of time.”

“You (MUBS) have taken a firm step in the right direction by setting up a library, which was a critical requirement. We are going to start work which will deliver a university status to this business school. The law is clear on what we should do,” Lubanga added.

He asked MUBS to be patient until the new Parliament comes into force after the national elections; so that the issue can be tabled.

Makerere University has for close to a decade been embroiled in a row with Makerere University Business School over the latter’s quest for independence from Uganda’s the oldest university.

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