Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament Asumani Basalirwa (former Makerere guild president) has today afternoon cautioned the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe on suspending students over minor issues like demonstrating.
This was during a meeting between MPs on the Education Committee and Makerere University administration represented by Prof Barnabas Nawangwe and Lorna Magara, the University Council Chairperson.
The two officials were invited to appear before the committee to explain further about the recent 15% tuition increment as well as the strike that followed the same tuition policy.
Basalirwa further advised Nawangwe to be human while handling students who he described as the Professor’s children. The Bugiri MP explained that Nawangwe has a created a bad image for the university which is supposed to be a market place of ideas.
“There’s a picture which has been created that you are high handed. You have a very big a challenge here because these students are young and you have to treat them like your children, otherwise this business of suspending should be your last option. A university is a market place of ideas, you have to engage the student leaders.” Basalirwa said.
While talking about the recent strike at Makerere, the former Ivory Tower guild leader revealed that he used to lead strikes at Makerere but he was never suspended .
“Be parental, be civil and humane, otherwise you are creating an environment of intimidation which is not good. Me I led strikes during my time and was never suspended, if I was studying during this time I would not have survived an expulsion,” Basalirwa added.
