Kanyeihamba vows to block government takeover of Kabale University

Retired Supreme Court Justice George Kanyeihamba has vowed to block the proposed government takeover of Kabale University, saying the people of Kigezi have worked hard to build the university. Mr Kanyeihamba is also the Vice Chancellor of the university.

Mr Kanyeihamba, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the university, made the comments while presiding over the 7th graduation ceremony of Kabale University over the weekend. He added that the university can survive on its own, and that the idea to turn it into a public university is not welcome.

Members of the Banyakigezi Association petitioned President Yoweri Museveni in early 2012 to have government take over Kabale University, accusing Mr Kanyeihamba, Ruhakana Rugunda, the University chancellor, Rama Makuza, Chairperson Board of Trustees, James Tumwine, University Council Chairperson and Peter Ngategize, the chairperson of the Appointment and Staff Welfare Committee and Henry Rwaganika, the Legal Counsel, of turning the university into their own business.

The president endorsed the proposal, saying the university be taken over as a constituent college of Mbarara University Science of Technology.

Mr Kanyeihamba however says the proposed takeover will expose the university to problems, adding that even existing public universities are not receiving sufficient funding from government. He says the universities are characterized by endless strikes, which is not common in private universities.

Kabale University was started in 2001 by members of Banyakigezi community with the aim of providing quality education to needy students from Kigezi region. But a few years after commencing operations the was embroiled in ownership wrangles over the alleged failure to pay Kabale District local government for the 52 acres of land allocated to the university.

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