MPs fail to block KIU funds
Sep 03, 2009
MEMBERS of Parliament on Monday unsuccessfully tried to block the sh4b the Government has given to Kampala International University (KIU) through the Ministry of Education.
By Milton Olupot
MEMBERS of Parliament on Monday unsuccessfully tried to block the sh4b the Government has given to Kampala International University (KIU) through the Ministry of Education.
The money is part of the sh178,074,826,000 appropriated as the ministry’s recurrent expenditure for the year 2009/10.
Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi kicked off the storm when he demanded an explanation from Government, why KIU, a private university, is financed out of the tax payers’ money.
He suggested that the money be blocked and instead be distributed to public universities.
Alice Alaso (FDC) argued that KIU be given sh500m like other private universities and the other sh3.5b be given to Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri, said Basajabalaba who is always getting grants and loan relief from Government.
The MPs, both on the opposition and the ruling NRM, the education and sports minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, when she said the money was to facilitate the university to set up the “biggest teaching hospital south of the Saharaâ€.
Speaker Edward Ssekandi ruled that since funds were already appearing in the policy statement as appropriated, the dissatisfied MPs move a motion that the vote be reduced by sh10,000 as a way of expressing their unhappiness.
Parliament also passed the health ministry budget of sh323.5b.
MEMBERS of Parliament on Monday unsuccessfully tried to block the sh4b the Government has given to Kampala International University (KIU) through the Ministry of Education.
The money is part of the sh178,074,826,000 appropriated as the ministry’s recurrent expenditure for the year 2009/10.
Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi kicked off the storm when he demanded an explanation from Government, why KIU, a private university, is financed out of the tax payers’ money.
He suggested that the money be blocked and instead be distributed to public universities.
Alice Alaso (FDC) argued that KIU be given sh500m like other private universities and the other sh3.5b be given to Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Opposition chief whip, Kassiano Wadri, said Basajabalaba who is always getting grants and loan relief from Government.
The MPs, both on the opposition and the ruling NRM, the education and sports minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, when she said the money was to facilitate the university to set up the “biggest teaching hospital south of the Saharaâ€.
Speaker Edward Ssekandi ruled that since funds were already appearing in the policy statement as appropriated, the dissatisfied MPs move a motion that the vote be reduced by sh10,000 as a way of expressing their unhappiness.
Parliament also passed the health ministry budget of sh323.5b.