Following the Daily Monitor article of 12th March, that indicated that Makerere University is to scrap off or merge 83 academic courses, there has been no rest for the University students that take on Development studies.
The whole idea of merging and scrapping off courses started way back in 2014 when President Museveni publicly declared that Arts Courses are useless and universities must scrap irrelevant courses despite the fact that the President himself studied an arts course at University of Dar es Salaam.
On Monday, students of Development studies forced Prof. Kirumira Edward out of his office so that he could address the issue of scrapping off or merging the course. During this meeting that was in LLT (Lower Lecture Theatre), Prof. Edward said “If you want to lose a course, strike but if you want to win a course, negotiate.”
When the police showed up for the same meeting that was also attended by the Dean, students stormed out of the room claiming that the police had come to sabotage the meeting and once the police left, the meeting resumed as normal.
Yesterday, the Students of Development studies had another meeting in UB1 (Upper Block 1), which was attended by the acting Head of Department, Lecturers in the Department of Development studies, MUDESA (Makerere University Development Studies Association) heads, and students offering Development Studies.
In this meeting one student was quoted saying ” Development studies is like a jigger in the feet of President Museveni and it makes him uncomfortable so he has to pluck it out.” receiving claps and cheers for such brave words.
During the meeting, the lectures strengthened and encouraged students by telling the students that they(Lecturers) were behind them and that they would fight together to see that the course remains.
“If these professors sit down and listen and just accept the advice of the President, then of what use are they?” One lecturer exclaimed.
The students in their own right claim that they were betrayed by their Principal Prof. Edward who they say ‘yapped a lot of B.S’. The students together with their lecturers are drafting documents and getting more than 1,000 signatures to oppose the decision to scrap off the course before 30th March when the committee tasked to review the academic programs submits a final report to the Senate.
The Major argument is that many universities in much more developed countries still offer Development Studies at Bachelor and Masters level. Development Studies is a very vital course for 3rd World countries like Uganda hence abolishing it or merging it with another course is the most illogical decision that can be made.
Students of development studies often choose careers in international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), private sector development consultancy firms, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) bodies and research centers which are vital organs in Uganda and other less developed countries.
