President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that government will, in the coming financial year, increase the remuneration of teachers and lecturers in public universities and institutions.
He said this will start with those in the science discipline as a way of enabling institutions recruit and retain those much needed science professionals in public educational institutions.
The President was yesterday speaking during celebrations to mark 25 years of the existence of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) that took place at the University’s new campus located at Kihumuro along Mbarara – Kasese road in Mbarara Municipality.
The President who initially commission the newly constructed Faculty of Applied Science and Technology block and also laid a foundation stone for the construction of the entire university campus estimated to cost Shs.100 billion, later inspected exhibition stalls before watching a spectacular dance and drama display by students of the university.
“Next financial year we shall increase salaries of science teachers and dedicate funds to educational infrastructure in public institutions now that fortunately our budget is reasonable and the economy is doing better,” he said.
President Museveni explained that government implements national programmes in phases in accordance with the country’s development plan because of limited funds at its disposal.
“In the 2013/2014 budget, we prioritized road construction spending Shs. 1.7 trillion. That’s why your roads are better. Last financial year, we increased salaries of teachers and other civil servants spending Shs.400 billion,” the President said
The President congratulated Mbarara University upon their 25 years of existence and the achievements realized so far. He described the university’s journey to success as one that was characterized by innovation and intellectual excellence. He noted that the success which the University has realized does not come as a surprise because the institution was premised on a firm foundation that emphasized the teaching of the right disciplines that are on demand on the labour market with a science bias, the reason, he stressed, one hardly finds MUST’s graduates unemployed
President Museveni, who was the founding Chancellor of MUST said the National Resistance Movement Government started that institution 25 years ago because of the shortage of medical doctors and other medical practitioners at the time which, he added, still exists to-date.
He saluted the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Frederick Kayanja, who has been at the institution’s helm for the last 25 years until last week, for overseeing its development and transformation. He said Professor Kayanja’s selfless service was what the President called “an example of a good Vice-Chancellor, who teaches himself, plans properly and strategically and listens to other players in doing his work.” He said that the government wants Professor Kayanja’s excellent works to spread to other educational institutions adding that was the reason he was appointed Chancellor of Gulu University in Northern Uganda.
Mr. Museveni commended the students and alumni of MUST for exercising the highest level of discipline saying the campus has not gone displayed any single act of indiscipline in the last 25 years. He advised students to always sit down with the administration and resolve any disagreements that might crop up without resorting to violence. He also advised the people of Mbarara district neighbouring the University to see it as a blessing and support the institution as it will offer business partnership with them on top of giving them proximity to education.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jesca Alupo said her ministry had obtained funding under the ADB-HEST IV project worth over US$100million to Uganda’s public universities and degree awarding institutions to promote science and technology, adding that MUST will receive US$12.2million to develop Kihumuro Campus.