Museveni Assents To Universities Bill

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has assented to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Bill effectively bringing it into force. Museveni appended his signature to the Bill that stops the President from being Chancellor of public universities on March 25, 2001, according to information obtained by The New Vision. The Bill repeals the 1970 Makerere University Act, the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Statute 1989, the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Statute 1992 and the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) Statute of 1993. It creates the National Council of Higher Education and streamlines the establishment, administration and standards of universities and other institutions of higher learning. Museveni will, however, preside over tomorrow's graduation at Makerere University where about 2,000 graduands will be awarded degrees and diplomas. University officials further said Museveni will also preside over the October 2001 graduation, a ceremony that will end the long tradition of Ugandan heads of state being chancellors.of public universities. Preparations are in high gear for tomorrow's ceremony. Ends