President Yoweri Museveni has asked Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) to teach market oriented courses that can be supported by government.
The President, speaking at the installation of the 4th Chancellor and 28th graduation ceremony of MUST, said that government does not support the establishment of courses in higher institutions of leaning that are not marketable.
“Let us not start any course that has got no relevance to the job market. The government will not fail to support you with funds for personnel and essential requirements for promoting science education,” remarked Museveni.
Over 1,028 science and technology students graduated with degrees on October 28th, at the institution’s Kihumuro Campus in Mbarara Municipality, with Museveni as visitor of public universities in Uganda.
MUST has graduated over 1,300 medical doctors since its inception in 1989.
His Excellence was pleased to note that, “MUST was small and working under a quality base.”
He observed that by the time MUST started, Uganda was suffering from a challenge of having only 80 medical doctors graduating per year from Makerere University, the only University in the country then.
“Africans suffered from ideological anesthesia at a small rate of 80 medical doctor graduates per annum in Uganda,” noted the president.
He added that Uganda, which has got a population of 40 million, needs a team of 80,000 medical doctors.
On the same event, Prof. Charles Mark Lwanga Olweny was installed as the new Chancellor, replacing Prof. Peter Mugyenyi who served two terms of four years each.
Museveni congratulated the new Chancellor upon his appointment, noting that Professor Olweny has got a long and distinguished career and the institution would greatly benefit from his wide knowledge.
He also paid tribute to the outgoing Chancellor Prof. Peter Mugyenyi for not only his long and good service to the institution but also for taking care of AIDS patients at the Joint Clinic and Research Centre (JCRC). He encouraged him to continue serving the JCRC facility.
First Lady Janet Museveni and Minister of Education and Sports, said the ceremony testifies President Museveni’s commitment to higher education.
She added that Uganda has made big strides having expanded from one university in the 1980s to the current 9 public and 41 private universities having a total enrolment of 160,000 students.
Prof. Olweny appreciated President Museveni for accepting the recommendation of the University Council and for appointing him.
He thanked the Government, donors and all stakeholders for their contributions to the promotion of the institution.
The new Chancellor presented awards to outstanding graduands who were led by Silas Nankwatsa and Paul Baguma.
