The Guild President of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)- Main Campus in Mbale municipality , Yusuf Welunga says COVID-19 pandemic should awaken African leaders and universities to support innovative students.
Welunga made the remarks on Tuesday, 5th May, 2020 during an online panel discussion for Guild Presidents in the country hosted by Asiimwe Ronald Williams from Youth Africa Forum under the theme “The Status of a University Student Amidst COVID-19.”
Welunga stressed out the need for African Governments and universities to support the innovations by university students as they have proved to be innovative during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“This COVID-19 pandemic has enabled some university students to become innovative such as those of IUIU who made Hands Free Hands Washer to fight COVID-19. I urge universities and African Governments to support such students,” he says.
He told Campus Bee that such innovative students once supported they can continue coming up with inventions that can solve several challenges derailing Africa’s progress. Welunga also spoke about the would be new phenomenon of E-learning and asked all Guild Presidents to take time and study the E-learning and advise their universities accordingly on how to improve on its effectiveness to benefit the learners.
On tuition issue, the IUIU Guild President argues that many learners are likely to fail squaring fees balances because of the bad shape of economy due to COVID-19 and asked all Guild Presidents to request their universities to relax on tuition policies so that students can sit for their examinations when Government orders re-opening of schools.
The online meeting brought together Guild Presidents namely Julius Kateregga of Makerere University , Jonathan Tundulu of Kyambogo University, Ryan Mahamuza of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Timothy Kadaga of Uganda Christian University, Adios Denmark of Bishop Stuart University, Awany Timothy of Gulu University, Muhammad Jaffar of Cavendish University and Bashira Nantongo of Islamic University in Uganda -Females’ campus among others.
