Alupo explains Kyambogo land saga

By Moses Walubiri

Minister of Education and Sports, Jessica Alupo, has refuted allegations that she has ordered Kyambogo University to surrender 2.5 acres of its prime land to an investor without the approval of the University Council, labeling the claims “baseless.”

Alupo’s denial comes at a time when the Inspector General of Government (IGG) has registered an official complaint (No. 62/3/2013), in which the Katakwi woman MP is accused of ordering the land giveaway on Thursday last week.

According to the complaint, acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Opuda-Asibo informed a top management meeting of Alupo’s verbal directive following an alleged meeting between him, Sam Akorimo (university secretary) and the minister the previous day.

However, in an interview with New Vision, the Katakwi woman MP said her ministry’s involvement in efforts by Megha Industries to acquire part of the university land was on the advice of President Yoweri Museveni as part of government’s investor-friendly policy.

“The investor approached the president last year with a view of acquiring land near his factory, hoping to create an additional 200 new jobs after the completion of intended expansion at his factory,” Alupo said.

She referred to her ministry’s involvement as strictly in adherence to the University and Other Tertiary Institutions’ Act.

The investor, according to Alupo, was keen to swap land housing Kyambogo’s ceramics department with land he owned elsewhere.

“The investor has made it clear that he is willing to drop his request for Kyambogo land and relocate his industry elsewhere if he is to expand his production capacity. But that would cost him over US$8m,” the minister said.

Opuda declined to comment on the latest development, saying he was in a meeting.

Various correspondences between embattled Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaiah Omolo Ndiege, Director Higher Education Elizabeth Gabona and Akorimo, indicate that the university administration had decided to spurn numerous requests to swap land with Megha Industries.

“After due considerations of all proposals you made and in view of the strong position taken by the University Council, we wish to inform you that the position communicated to you on 16th September 2010, still remains,” Akorimo’s letter to the chairman MeghaIndustries, Shiraz Meghani, dated 15 October 2010 reads in part.

The issue of giving part of Kyambogo University land to the investor is central to the current administrative wrangles blighting the university.

Ndiege late last year told MPs on the education committee of parliament that some people keen to sanction the ‘land giveaway’ were fomenting trouble for him to get booted out.

The report by the Education Committee also cautioned ministry of education from meddling into Kyambogo land affairs.