MUST wins Development Studies battle

However, Prof. Kayanja said on Tuesday at the launch of a Journal of Development Issues in Mbarara that he has since met the President over the matter and was resolved in their favour.

Mbarara
President Museveni has acknowledged that arts courses being offered at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) are necessary, the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fredrick Kayanja, has claimed.

The President and first deputy prime minister Eriya Kategaya have been critics of MUST administration for having introduced Development Studies in a science university.

In October, while addressing the business community in Mbarara, President Museveni said he was disappointed by the university designed for sciences to include arts courses.

President Museveni reportedly said he would only support the relocation and expansion of the university to Kihumuro main campus only if the managers sought a school of engineering.

However, Prof. Kayanja said on Tuesday at the launch of a Journal of Development Issues in Mbarara that he has since met the President over the matter and was resolved in their favour.
“I explained to him the importance of Developments Studies and at the end of the meeting, he said, “Kayanja you have won’,” he said.

“Development Studies are not only vital in the developing countries but the entire world. We are also imparting some of the principles to our medical students for them to know why we remain backwards,” Prof. Kayanja argued.

The journal is a maiden publication by Prof. Elijah Dickens Mushemeza of Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara intended to open an intellectual forum in which scholars at the university and the world over demonstrate their skills and publish their findings.

Prof. Kayanja warned that Africa is severely castigated because of poor journals and magazines with mediocre stuff published. He called for quality production.

“Every good journal must avoid elastic scope but establishes a niche,” he said.
He said the launch of the journal is very important as universities are archives of knowledge.