4 NEW VISION, Monday, September 1, 2014 NATIONAL NEWS Public universities admission board illegal — High Court By Edward Anyoli However, he was not admitted He said Makerere only admits “This is a groundbreaking ruling and Andante Okanya for the programme on grounds students selected by the education because it has outlawed PUJAB and that he had not applied for it BETWEEN THE LINES: ministry through PUJAB. other students can as well come out John Manzi, a former student of through the PUJAB. n “This is a groundbreaking to sue the university for damages,” Naalya SSS, is starting his law Instead, he was admitted for ruling. It has outlawed PUJAB Implications he stated. course at Makerere University with a business administration on and other students can as well The Solicitor General, Francis Makerere University Vice-Chan- dramatic legal victory over Makerere government sponsorship. Manzi come out to sue the university Atoke, said his office will study cellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssen- University. challenged this decision a month for damages,” Kihika stated. the ruling before advising the tamu yesterday said he would On Thursday, the High Court in ago. education ministry. discuss with the university’s legal Kampala declared that the Public Justice Yasin Nyanzi ruled that it, it is, therefore, an illegal body “I cannot comment on this matter team on the prospects of lodging Universities Joint Admissions Board PUJAB was an illegal set-up since for the purpose of admission. because I have not read the ruling,” an appeal. (PUJAB) is an illegal entity. there was no statutory instrument or Makerere Univesrsity had Atoke noted. He insisted that Manzi did not ap- The court ordered Makerere Act of Parliament that put it in place. argued that Manzi faulted on However, Manzi’s lawyer, ply for the Bachelor of Laws degree University to admit Manzi for The judge, therefore, ruled that the the process of admission by Oscar Kihika, said the ruling im- on government sponsorship. a bachelor’s degree in law on university acted illegally by using not applying for Bachelors of plies that PUJAB has been stripped “We are instructing our lawyers to government scholarship. Court also PUJAB as a basis for denying Manzi Law through PUJAB, which is a of the powers to admit students appeal. The most important thing is ordered Makerere to pay him the cost a vacancy. requirement for all those seeking for government sponsorship. that the student did not apply for the of the legal suit. Justice Nyanzi noted that since government sponsorship. He argued that unless the le- law course,” Ssentamu said. Manzi passed A’ level with Makerere could not show how PUJAB Makerere University lawyer Pope gal status of PUJAB is rectified, Education expert Fagil Mandy 19 points and also passed was created to handle admission Ahimbisibwe had also argued that A’ level candidates will in fu- said; “I cannot comment on that the law school’s pre-entry of students to public universities Manzi should have sued the Attorney ture have to apply to the different because I do not know the status of examination with 63%. and what legal instrument created General. universities independently. that body (PUJAB).” Besigye meets look-alike By Cecilia Okoth, Nigel Nasser But the lanky Ochieng was all jovial and his and Raymond Baguma visit to Uganda has not been in vain because in Besigye, he has a friend, whom he described as Former Forum for Democratic Change president “a welcoming guy”. Col. Kizza Besigye yesterday met Jeff Ochieng, a Besigye told New Vision he had seen Ochieng’s pic- Kenyan, who is much teased for resembling Uganda’s ture before they met, and he had been told about their top opposition politician. resemblance. Early last month, New Vision broke the story about a “But there is no possibility or opportunity to consider 22-year-old Kenyan photojournalist searching for his that I am his parent; which if there is, I would celebrate father. it,” Besigye said. Ochieng said for the past nine years, he has been Ochieng, who works with Standard newspaper, has asked if he was Besigye’s son because of the striking never met his father and never got the chance to ask resemblance. his mother before she died about 10 years ago. He said Besigye He arrived in Uganda last week to meet Besigye and in an interview published in New Vision: “I loved my (right) ask him if they are related. mother, Elisha Adhiambo, so much, but unfortunately taking a Yesterday, the two had a cordial meeting at Besigye’s God did not allow her to live. Probably, she could have selfie with home in Kasangati, Wakiso. answered all my questions.” Ochieng Ochieng also met Besigye’s other family members Besigye said: “I treat it as a good thing that we during the with whom they dined and took pictures. resemble. Someone has a background I am empathetic interview in After the meeting, Ochieng told New Vision: “I feel to — of losing their parents when they were young. But Kassangati much honoured and I count myself lucky. We have I think there are many people who look alike.’’ yesterday. talked about everything except football. He told me ‘‘At the end of the day, we are all from the same stock Photo about his family history and I also told him about my of Adam and Eve. I don’t know what makes people look by Juliet life. There is no chance of any relation.” alike, but I celebrate the fact that we are all interrelated.” Kasirye MPs, minister clash over govt loan approvals By Francis Emorut budget proposals that are to pass loans is not good when the responsibility of her ministry to currently being crutinised by projects are not implemented,” ensure that government projects MPs have clashed with finance parliamentary committees. Muwuma said. are funded and appealed for minister Maria Kiwanuka over the Kigulu South MP Milton He was supported by Mukono the support of the MPs. Government’s practice of rushing Muwuma said the practice North MP Peter Bakaluba She admitted that there was a them to approve loans, which of rushing MPs through Mukasa, who said it was problem of implementation and requests are often presented late. the loan approval process not good to pressure MPs asked civil society organisations During a breakfast meeting is akin to “mortgaging the to pass loans. to help monitor government with the parliamentary country” by borrowing The minister hit back at the projects to ensure they are done committee on finance, the MPs excessively and hastily. MPs, saying they should not go well and on time. expressed concern over the many “Our country is being personal, but should appreciate About the Mukono-Katosi unimplemented projects for mortgaged. We are paying that the Government is doing road issue, the minister said it which loans were approved years high interest rates on these a commendable job in several was her ministry that swung ago, yet interest is accumulating. loans. What are we leaving for sectors. She rebutted the MPs into action to halt further The meeting which was our children?” he asked. ‘concerns that the Government disbursement of funds. She organised by the Civil Society Muwuma cited a loan that was was borrowing excessively, saying noted that the ombudsman Budget Advocacy Group was held approved by Parliament in 2011 Uganda was the least indebted is probing the issue before at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala from the Korean Government country in East Africa. work can resume. on Friday. It was attended by for the rehabilitation of technical “Over 90% of the debt is on MPs present included the finance ministry officials and institutes and another for rural concessional terms. The grace finance committee chairperson, Kiwanuka (right) talking to Kenneth members of the civil society electrification approved in 2009 period of repaying the loans is Robert Ssebbunya; Santa Okot Mugambe, a finance ministry official, during organisation. in Mayuge district, all of which 20-40 years,” Kiwanuka noted. (Pader); Stephen Mukitale the meeting at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel The meeting aimed at have never been done. On rushing MPs to approve (Bulisa) and Mathias Nsubuga on Friday. Photo by Francis Emorut harmonising the 2014/2015 “This business of rushing MPs loans, the minister said it was the (Bukoto West).