By Watchdog reporter
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni has commended student leaders of Makerere University for choosing dialogue instead of violence on issues that affect public universities in the country.
Mrs. Museveni made the remarks while addressing over 50 student leaders from Makerere University headed by their leader Mr. Jonathan Burobuto who came to meet with the Minister on the closure of the University. The meeting took place on Monday afternoon at the Office of the President Conference Hall in Kampala.
Makerere University was recently closed due to industrial action by the non-teaching staff of the institution over alleged non-payment of their arrears by the University Council. Mrs. Museveni, however, assured the students’ leaders that she had been assured by the University Council that the institution will be re-opened on Tuesday.
“Makerere University Council has assured me that come tomorrow {Tuesday 16th August 2016}, they will open the University’’ she said.
The Minister thanked the student body for caring to use dialogue about their education, their institution of higher learning and above all, their country Uganda.
“You are the group of young people who truly care about education, about the institution of higher learning and above all, the country Uganda. We commend you for the direction you have taken because you are the leaders of tomorrow and we look to you who care about what methods to use as a solution in the development of our country,” she said.
The First Lady applauded Makerere University Council for the decision to open the University. She pledged to work together with them to constitute a strong team on this journey for the education sector. She also pledged to have similar dialogue sessions with the student leaders in the future.
“We want you to be part of a team but not part of the problem to inform the general public about issues affecting the University,” she emphasized.
Students’ leader, Mr. Jonathan Burobuto, on his part, thanked the First Lady for the dialogue with the student leaders of Makerere University on issues affecting their institution. He also requested the government to build a wall fence around the University to improve on security.
Mr. Burobuto noted that despite the challenges that Makerere University is experiencing, it still remains one of the best higher learning institutions in Uganda in particular and in Africa generally.
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