By Nicholas Kajoba

THE Government has set aside sh3b to open a petroleum college in Kigumba this year. The college will be established at the Uganda Cooperative College campus, which will also benefit from the funds, according to the State Minister for Higher Education, Mwesigwa Rukutana.

He said in Kampala on Wednesday that the project would start with the refurbishing of the old buildings, followed by the enrollment of students next year.

He made the remarks at the ministry during the release of last year’s examination results for the cooperative college. Fifty candidates passed, 14 are to repeat and 49 have supplementary papers.

“I am happy to note that the cooperative college graduates are imparted with innovative business and development skills to help the cooperative organisations develop,” he said.

Mwesigwa warned institutions to guard against examination malpractices, saying it leads to moral decay and produces corrupt people.

The function was witnessed by education officials. On the issue of corruption, Mwesigwa said; “The vice must be fought by all stakeholders, including students, teachers and local leaders.”

He added that the Government put a lot of emphasis on science and vocational training in order to transform the economy from subsistence to middle class level through result of industrialisation.

Mwesigwa said cooperative societies are involved in marketing and value addition through processing and financial services, adding that these were pillars of prosperity.

The chairman of the governing council of Kigumba College, Martin Olobo, said the enrollment had increased from 270 in 2007 to 369 in 2008.

“With the recovery of the cooperative movement and growth of the national economy, the enrollment of students will double,” he said.