Thursday, October 22, 2009

LINDA TUSIIME’S STANCE ON TUITION INCREMENT REDICULOUS.

ABWOOLI RUJUMBA OMURUNGI W'ABASAMBU, I write to counter Miss Linda Tusiime’s richly arrogant and unbelievably reckless opinion ‘ Increasing university tuition fess not a bad idea’ about the so called 40% increment in the tuition fees of in the five public Universities published in the Daily monitor of October 22nd 2009. It is not only deceiving but is also tainted by that snobbish and inconsiderate tone that is characteristic of only NRM cadres and proven Mr. Museveni Sycophants.

I highly detest the irritating way with which she seems resolved to justify a discriminatory policy. It still pains my heart that there are Ugandans who still absorb the lies of this government and the Makerere top brass that the suspiciously high Tuition increment is the only way through which our intentionally ill- funded public institutions shall be saved from going to the dogs.

Madam Linda, for your information, going ahead and alleging that the hike in tuition fees for University students is 40% is an intended move to propagate lies to the unsuspecting general public with the sole motive of defending your ignoble designs and for that you need to have your signature fully appended on an apology to the people of Uganda and have it published in this good daily. Here is why:

At our beleaguered and neglected Makerere University, to enroll for a Bachelor of Laws day programme (BLAW) in the academic year 2009/10, one had to cough Uganda Ushs. 1.260.000 way far divorced from the Ushs. 600.000 of in the intake of the academic year 2008/2009. This is an increment of more than 120% if one seeks aid of elementary arithmetics. Madam, 40% is so much unconnected with 120%. Am also appalled that the media has also abetted this inaccurate reporting that the increment is 40%!

Linda’s other contention that Education is a privilege that only a few should access is deplorably worrying and legally wanting. Education being a formidable tool for social transformation cannot be risked to be a preserve of only a few coincidentally who sprout from affluent families. The success of Social transformation rests on the masses that form a powerful engine for its proper propulsion. I assign Linda and those who think like her to read the success stories of the Asian tigers.

Legally also, the right to Education is not only clearly embedded in Article 30 of the 1995 constitution of this republic but also in international human rights instruments that Uganda has ratified inter alia Art. 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948 and Article 13 of the International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 1966. Allegations that Education is a privilege are therefore baseless with intent to baffle.

Saying that ‘we may end up with an exploding market of degree holders’ if even the peasant is allowed to access University education is not anticipation but a reality. Uganda now boasts of one of the world’s highest unemployment rates. The fear I expected Linda to harbor was not that Uganda will move towards the same for this is prevailing but how logically and effectively this worrying impasse is being countered by Mr. Museveni’s good regime. In answer, it leaves a lot to be desired but this is not the topic of today.

Finally, the triple-digit increment in the tuition bills of students is not only a suspicious design but is also fundamentally segregative, narrow-minded and one of those grotesque acts that a government can inflict on its impoverished people. Mr. Museveni, prevail over this policy for it contravenes your valued principles of ‘prosperity for all’. This is state- engineered illiteracy.

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