New Education Council Averts Legal Impasse

By John EremuTHE National Council for Higher Education has finally been constituted, averting a legal crisis that would have rocked public universities and tertiary institutions after April 5, when the old law was to expire.The Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, removes the President as chancellor of public universities and creates a 17-member council to regulate the work of higher institutions of learning.Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ssebuwufu represents public universities on the male-dominated council, while his counterpart from Mbarara University, Prof. Frederick Kayanja, represents the senate of public universities.Education Minister Dr. Kiddu Makubuya and Permanent Secretary Francis Lubanga were yesterday said to be attending a funeral in Kitgum and could not be reached for comment.But a source said private universities are represented on the council by Prof. Michel Lejeune of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi.Although President Yoweri Museveni assented to the law creating the council almost a year ago, the members had to undergo rigorous vetting by both the President’s office and the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity.Ends