Govt Takes Over Running of Busoga University
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12 NEW VISION, Tuesday, February 6, 2018 REGIONAL NEWS Govt takes over running of Busoga University Amuru leaders clash KAMULI Authorities in Amuru have By Tom Gwebayanga National Forest Authority (NFA) over a planned re-opening of the The Government has announced boundaries of Olwal Central Forest its decision to take over the Reserve. Olwal Forest Reserve is management of the stressed private located in Olwal village, Giragira Busoga University in a bid to end parish, Lamogi sub-county in Amuru the woes that have rocked the district. It covers 1,384 hectares institution for over six years, the of land. The leaders, who included Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya Kadaga, has said. and Amuru LC5 chairman Michael Kadaga said President Yoweri Lakony, demanded that NFA Museveni last week okayed the stop planting mark stones along takeover of Busoga University to the boundaries of Olwal Forest relieve the public of last year’s tension as a result of its closure to plant the mark stones last week by the National Council for Higher because the leaders and residents Education (NCHE). protested the re-opening of the “It is over; the people of Busoga boundaries of the forest reserve, and beyond have every reason to claiming that NFA wants to grab smile,” Kadaga said. She said amidst the troubles of the bullets in the air to stop youth from university, a blessing has come after reloading the mark stones onto the President Museveni gave a directive NFA vehicle that had brought them. that the government takes over full control of the university, which is on the brink of collapse. “The Government could not look Kadaga (fourth-left) with the graduates and Watongola (right) at the party. Photo by Tom Gwebayanga Town clerk grilled on as the 17-year-old university collapses,” Kadaga said on Saturday takes immediate effect shall relieve Kadaga lashed out at critics, In September 2012, the same at Nabirumba Mosque grounds in students of the tension after NCHE competitors and bad elements she university was involved in a case over wetland Kamuli town at the graduation party closed the private university said were working round the clock where it suspended four of its Kakiri town council clerk of three children of Kamuli Woman in December due to technical to see the fall of the institution. senior staff for issuing ‘fake’ degrees Stephen Mwasanje was grilled MP Rehema Watongola. irregularities. Watongola urged parents to invest to students. for receiving sh3m and giving Mariam Mutakubwa graduated Kadaga said the institution, with in education, saying it is profitable. The officials allegedly used to away Kikubampanga wetland to with a bachelor’s degree in adult the main campus in Iganga town “With more learned people in our remove names of some students Super Waste Technology Recycling and community education at and others in Kamuli, Kaliro, Lugazi society, innovations shall come by who were genuinely meant to Company Ltd. Mwasanje was grilled Kyambogo University while Baroda and Bugiri, has hoisted Busoga’s and in farm development,” she said. graduate from the graduation in a meeting chaired by Kakiri Kayanga graduated with a diploma glory for 17 years and, therefore, the booklet and substitute them with town mayor Muhammad Kisekka in community-based rehabilitation closure was uncalled for. Why university was closed the unqualified ones. The staff were at the Wakiso chief administrative from the same university. She said the campuses had not only NHCE revoked Busoga University’s reportedly paid sh60m. Derrick Kasadha got a bachelor’s produced elites, but also generated licence over the manner in which The students also lacked the degree in human resource from income for the community in terms more than 1,000 South Sudanese minimum criteria for admission — an slammed Mwasanje for refusing Kampala International University. of shops, supermarkets, hostels and were admitted and went on to A’level certificate or its equivalent. to stop the activity as ordered. Kadaga said the takeover that hotels. graduate in a space of two months. There was no formal registration Some of the investors attended the meeting and were stopped from going on with any development in the wetland before getting clearance from National Environment Management Councillors turn guns on civil servants Authority. TORORO to the CAO, the same councillors “The district executive committee is are now influencing members of the By Faustine Odeke district service commission hailing Mbale municipality from West Budama to pull out, so After failing to attend Tororo district not constituted and, therefore, has not that the commission fails to raise council meetings on two consecutive the quorum required to conduct gets sh7.6b for roads occasions in a bid to frustrate the recommended any recruitment to the business. Mbale municipality has council operations, disgruntled Attempts to reach the CAO, received sh7.5b from the councillors from West Budama have Elizabeth Namanda, for comment World Bank to construct two new now turned their guns on the civil district council.” Reads letter to CAO were futile by press time as her roads that had stalled for the servants. known mobile phone numbers last three years. The funds were The councillors, who have been were off. received under Urban Support engaged in endless political the secretary, Simon Peter Opio. for the district,’’ the letter read. The chairperson of Tororo county to Municipalities Infrastructural wars, have now written to the “This is to inform you that the They requested to find out the councillors caucus, Jimmy Alia Development (USMID). The new chief administrative officer procedure laid down for recruitment basis on which the CAO’s office Apumeri, clashed with speaker John roads to be reconstructed include (CAO), requesting her to stay the of staff by the district service made the submission without Okea over failure to call a council Naboa Road, Cathedral Road while ongoing recruitment exercise over commission has not been followed. following the laid down procedures. meeting. Apumeri tasked Okea Republic Street, Mugisu Hill Road allegations that normal procedure This can result in legal redress that “Be further advised that the with urgently calling the meeting and Nabuyonga Rise will receive was not followed. can cause grave loss to the district entire recruitment process was not to discuss the current operational ! In a letter of January 29: “ongoing council. supported or sanctioned by the mess in the district. Nabuyonga and Mugisu works recruitment by the district service “The district executive committee district council and any shortcoming However, Okea said he has been started in 2014, but had stalled commission”, to the CAO, the is not constituted and, therefore, has shall be to your own chagrin,” the calling council meetings, but he is following the disappearance of councillors say the process should not recommended any recruitment letter stated. being frustrated by the continued " be stayed to avoid any loss that to the district council. It is also Speaking during the burial of Prof. boycott by West Budama councillors. site. Last week, Mbale municipality may occur as a result of possible clear that the district council has David Livingstone Okanya in Kamuli Tororo County South MP Frederick $ litigation. The letter was signed by not made a resolution to the above village, Mukuju sub-county over the Angura said the continued over the contract to Zhongmei West Budama councillors caucus effect. In addition, the council has weekend, the acting chairperson, squabbles will end once the district Engineering group, a Chinese chairman Jox Owori Jabwana and not passed the customised structure Stella Imukutet, said besides writing is divided. company..