By Mary Karugaba
Parliament will move a special motion to celebrate Makerere University’s 100th anniversary, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has said.
Meeting a team from Makerere University Council and Management led by the University Council Chairperson, Lorna Magara and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at Parliament, Tayebwa said the motion will be one of the ways to appreciate the contribution of the university to the development of the country.
According to Tayebwa, the motion will be moved on October 5, the eve of the centennial celebrations. To ensure that it’s done, he instructed the government Chief Whip, Denis Obua, to coordinate the teams that will move the motion and second it.
In his response, Obua said Parliament has several MPs who were former Makerere University guild presidents, and these should be in a position to move and second the motion.
“These should be able to share with us their journey and leadership while at Makerere and the well-wishers shall come in,” Obua said.
Makerere kick-started the century celebrations last year, with the climax expected on October 6 at the university’s main campus in Kampala.
Tayebwa wondered why Makerere University, which is the top institution in the country, is producing fewer students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
He tasked the managers to work toward doubling the number of engineers, doctors, and architects it produces each year to match the current need in the country.
Tayebwa also revealed that Parliament was ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Makerere University so that experts from the university support Parliament in the fulfillment of its legislation.
“Makerere University experts should be able to give us independent opinions and analysis of issues that will be discussed at Parliament. They should also be able to appear before various committees to give their expertise,” Tayebwa said.
