By Alex Esagala
Deputy speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has urged government to increase public universities’ funding to cater for research as a way of creating and increasing expertise in Uganda.
During plenary sitting on Wednesday, September 28, the House passed a motion for a Resolution of Parliament to commemorate 100 years of the existence of Makerere University.
Presiding over the sitting, DS Tayebwa emphasized the need to invest more funds in research programs at both public and private universities to enhance learning systems in higher institutions and enable them to produce more job creators than seekers.
“If we want our universities to be relevant, to not only produce products that will go on the market to look for jobs and all that, we shall need also to give them money for research so that they can design solutions for our problems,” said the Deputy Speaker.
The motion was moved by Sheema South MP, Prof Dickens Mushemeza , who recognized Makerere University’s contribution to Uganda’s economic, social development and its active participation in the political transformation of not only Uganda but also other African countries.
The state minister for higher Education Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo,called upon parliament to support Makerere University as it repositions itself in an endeavor to become a research and innovation led university for the next 100 years.
Following the Univesity’s training of medical doctors from Mulago Hospital, Dr.Muyingo went on to encourage members to support government in its efforts towards the construction of an independent hospital for Makerere University.
“We are also using these celebrations to solicit support for Makerere University to come up with its own Makerere University hospital, you are aware, Makerere University has been training medical doctors from Mulago, very soon, I will be coming here to present a request, I hope you do support me,” he said.
WHAT MPS SAID ON THE FLOOR
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka: I am a proud student of Makerere University 1993-1996 where I was privileged to study law as a first degree and I was a student of Nkrumah hall. Makerere is transitioning into a research- led University and we will need to support Makerere in every possible way to achieve that dream of finding home bread solutions to our problems. Makerere must start doing research to find solutions which are made for us and by us. Makerere has made us proud.
Bubulo East MP John Musila: Mr. Speaker, I am a ‘rasta’ and the influence is Makerere University. I want those who have come and those in the gallery to know that Makerere University as well produced a ‘rasta’ man in this Parliament. I want to add a voice that Makerere has done political transformation of the region and the whole of Africa,we have produced Presidents in Kenya two of them, Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, inTanzania, President Nyerere.
Jenipher Namuyangu, Woman MP, Kibuku: I want to salute the men and women especially the lecturers of Makerere University, I was a student there for six years, Mao was then my guild president, I agree that we need to support Makerere University to rehabilitate the halls of residence, I am told Lumumba apparently is closed for the next two year due to rehabilitation and am happy for that. Halls like Mary Stuart should also be considered.
Nakaseke South MP, Lutamaguzi Ssemakula: Everyone is here singing about Makerere University, most of us have gone through Makerere University but the question arises Mr Speaker, what have we done for Makerere University?
Maracha East MP, Lematia RuthMolly Ondoru: I am not an alumni of Makerere for higher degrees but a close associate of Makerere, I am a nurse by profession. When the nurses didn’t have degrees in this country, I sat down and prepared a proposal to introduce nursing degrees in Uganda. Therefore, I went to Makerere if they could take over this course, I am very grateful to Makerere, they were able to take it on. I am very happy today that nurses can also get degrees and PhDs in Uganda
