Makerere Business School strike erupts again
Nov 25, 2003
MAKERERE University Business School (MUBS) students stormed the offices of the Ministry of Education for the second time yesterday, protesting over unpaid living-out allowances.
By Geoffrey Kamali
and Henry Mukasa
MAKERERE University Business School (MUBS) students stormed the offices of the Ministry of Education for the second time yesterday, protesting over unpaid living-out allowances.
The students, carrying tree branches and chanting slogans insulting education minister Khiddu Makubuya, were also protesting non-payment of government funds to MUBS for two years.
They besieged the Embassy House and UDC Building, which house the education offices, the Movement Secretariat, the Uganda Veterans Assistance Board (UVAB) as well as the foreign affairs ministry.
The rowdy students blocked officials from leaving the premises for six hours, closed the gates to the two buildings, disrupted business and created a standoff with the security officers there. Some officials were forced to jump over the fence to get out.
“Twagala ssente, Makubuya agende! (We want money, Makubuya should go!) they chanted repeatedly.
They were particularly infuriated that their fellow students at Makerere University main campus had already been paid.
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi spent the day chairing an inter-ministerial meeting to resolve the problem.
“It was agreed that the problem of non-payment of allowances has been solved and the Minister of Education and Sports, Khiddu Makubuya, will communicate to the public through Parliament tomorrow (today),†a statement from the premier's office said last evening.
The meeting was attended by ministers Gerald Ssendawula (finance), Khiddu Makubuya (education), Beatrice Wabudeya (higher education), Geraldine Bitamazire (primary education), Okello Oryem (sports) and internal affairs state minister Kezimbira Miyingo.
A senior economist with the Ministry of Education said they paid money for the 1,000 government-sponsored students but that MUBS increased the number by 500.
“That demonstration should be taken to Makerere to explain. We don't owe them money,†he said.
The storm settled down after Kampala Police chief Benson Oyo Nyeko assured the students the problem had been resolved and offered a Police bus to take them back to Nakawa.
However, MUBS Principal Wasswa Balunywa told journalists that the meeting had not yielded anything but rather pushed the school on the edge of collapse.
He said although the meeting had agreed that MUBS be paid, he was told the funds already given to the school were enough.
“There's a conspiracy to kill the school. We have known this conspiracy for long. The conspiracy is to deny us everything, which is our right. Why apply double standards?†Balunywa asked.
He said the restless students could not go to class without money.
Balunywa said he had called an emergency MUBS council to review the saga tomorrow.
Ed: It is not correct that the Prime Minister last week instructed the Minister of Finance to resolve the MUBS issue, as reported. He instructed the Minister of Education.
Ends
and Henry Mukasa
MAKERERE University Business School (MUBS) students stormed the offices of the Ministry of Education for the second time yesterday, protesting over unpaid living-out allowances.
The students, carrying tree branches and chanting slogans insulting education minister Khiddu Makubuya, were also protesting non-payment of government funds to MUBS for two years.
They besieged the Embassy House and UDC Building, which house the education offices, the Movement Secretariat, the Uganda Veterans Assistance Board (UVAB) as well as the foreign affairs ministry.
The rowdy students blocked officials from leaving the premises for six hours, closed the gates to the two buildings, disrupted business and created a standoff with the security officers there. Some officials were forced to jump over the fence to get out.
“Twagala ssente, Makubuya agende! (We want money, Makubuya should go!) they chanted repeatedly.
They were particularly infuriated that their fellow students at Makerere University main campus had already been paid.
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi spent the day chairing an inter-ministerial meeting to resolve the problem.
“It was agreed that the problem of non-payment of allowances has been solved and the Minister of Education and Sports, Khiddu Makubuya, will communicate to the public through Parliament tomorrow (today),†a statement from the premier's office said last evening.
The meeting was attended by ministers Gerald Ssendawula (finance), Khiddu Makubuya (education), Beatrice Wabudeya (higher education), Geraldine Bitamazire (primary education), Okello Oryem (sports) and internal affairs state minister Kezimbira Miyingo.
A senior economist with the Ministry of Education said they paid money for the 1,000 government-sponsored students but that MUBS increased the number by 500.
“That demonstration should be taken to Makerere to explain. We don't owe them money,†he said.
The storm settled down after Kampala Police chief Benson Oyo Nyeko assured the students the problem had been resolved and offered a Police bus to take them back to Nakawa.
However, MUBS Principal Wasswa Balunywa told journalists that the meeting had not yielded anything but rather pushed the school on the edge of collapse.
He said although the meeting had agreed that MUBS be paid, he was told the funds already given to the school were enough.
“There's a conspiracy to kill the school. We have known this conspiracy for long. The conspiracy is to deny us everything, which is our right. Why apply double standards?†Balunywa asked.
He said the restless students could not go to class without money.
Balunywa said he had called an emergency MUBS council to review the saga tomorrow.
Ed: It is not correct that the Prime Minister last week instructed the Minister of Finance to resolve the MUBS issue, as reported. He instructed the Minister of Education.
Ends