In a move that has left many scratching their heads, Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe announced this morning that the institution has received five “limousines” to address the pressing challenge of managing protocol for important visitors.
The fleet of what appears to be standard BMW sedans was unveiled in the university’s Freedom Square, with Prof. Nawangwe expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the allocation and the Ministry of Works and Transport for facilitating the transfer.
“Finally, we can properly welcome our distinguished guests,” one could imagine the VC saying, while somewhere in the background, a some students remain with daily financial struggles as tuition rates are not about to drop.
The timing of the “limousine” delivery is particularly noteworthy, coming at a time when Makerere has been grappling with staff strikes over unpaid allowances, crumbling infrastructure, and students frequently sent home over unpaid tuition fees.
One anonymous lecturer commented, “It’s reassuring to know that when I can’t afford fuel to get to work because my salary is delayed, at least our important visitors will arrive in style.”
The university’s priority-setting skills continue to astound, proving once again that in Uganda’s education sector, perception management trumps actual education every time.
Students were reportedly seen wondering if these “protocol vehicles” might double as mobile classrooms during the frequent power outages that plague the institution.
Take a look at the new arrivals;
