MPs inspect Kyambogo University

By Umaru Kashaka and Innocent Anguyo     
 
MPs on education and sports committee have urged government to provide more funds to enable Kyambogo University improve its dilapidated structures.
 
Mps, who toured the University on Wednesday, expressed sadness at the sorry state of the university structures and urged government to come to its rescue.
 
"The government has not invested enough in this university.  Everything from the library to the toilets is in appalling state. The 20% from government is not enough given the University background," said Sylvia Namabidde, the committee chair, after the inspection.
 
The University inherited the current structures from the former Uganda Polytechnic, the Institute of Teacher Education (ITEK), and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education (UNISE) which were merged to form Kyambogo in 2003.
 
"The demand for university education is higher than the initial one. The population of this campus grew but the infrastructure stayed the same. This is putting the lives of everyone here at risk," Namabidde said.

Early this year, there was a strike by the students over poor facilities at the University, during which the students conducted Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura on an inspection of their filthy toilets and bathrooms, which the administration was not caring for.

 The Palisa county MP Jacobo Opolot said a lot should be done to revamp Kyambogo to the level.

 "This is not like a University; there is flowing water everywhere, the latrines and bathrooms are in a bad situation-the University really needs affirmative action."
 
The committee also urged the University council to use the 80% it gets from students to improve sanitation and stock the library.
 
"There must be value for money. Each student pays Sh20, 000 as library fee but there are no new books; it's only outdated ones of 1970s that are in shelves. How are students going to do their research when they are not having new books," wondered Kamara Nizeyimana, Bufumbira North MP.
 
The MPs' appeal was re-echoed by the acting vice chancellor Prof. John Osibo-Opuda who said the insufficient government funding is partly to blame for the sorry state of the University structures.
 
"Everything is pegged to money. Provide us with sufficient funds and you will see the university improving," he said.
 
He added that although the University is going to get a grant from the African Development Bank to build a new library, still government needs to allocate it more funds.