President Yoweri Museveni has commended the proprietors of Ndejje University for positively responding to the Government policy of liberalization of the education sector.
“I congratulate you for having the right vision for the university. Any institution without the correct vision will fizzle away”, he noted, adding the institution would grow from strength to strength if it continues following its current vision.
The President was paying his tribute to Ndejje University during the ceremony of the commissioning of the institution’s science and technology complex that took place Friday at the campus in Luwero district.
The institution started operations in 1992 and was a charter in 2009. It is in the process of acquiring 400 acres of land in neighbouring Nakasongola district to accommodate the research facility in renewable energy and environmental management.
Apart from the main campus, Ndejje University maintains three other campuses one in Luweero, Kampala and Nakasongola districts.
Museveni stressed that the country needs scientists to boost its development process.
He pledged the Government’s commitment to facilitate the university in up-grading the laboratories.
He also said that special emphasis would be put into the inspection of materials.
President Museveni further commented Ndejje University administration for establishing a degree course in petroleum engineering.
He thanked the proprietors of the institution for enabling the rehabilitation of the Luwero Triangle through the construction of the university campus.
Regarding the issues of infrastructure development, the President pledged to construct the 8-kilometre Bombo – Ndejje road.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo saluted the President for providing incentives that have played a leading role in enabling the expansion of universities in the country from only one in 1986 to 38 in 2013. She observed that the number of public universities in the same period has increased from one to 6.
Hon. Alupo revealed that the Government has directed private universities to charge students from the East African region the same fees like their Ugandan counterparts. She commended the Ndejje University for allowing Primary and Secondary Schools to use its good sports facilities.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Bishop Evans Kisekka thanked the President for honouring the invitation.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eriabu Lugujjo saluted the President for increasing the number of Government-sponsored science students. He revealed that the new Science and Technology complex would, among other activities, manufacture wood ball