By Jumah Kakomo
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) is concerned about reports that universities especially the public institutions are withholding transcripts of students who studied on government loan scheme under Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) on grounds that the government has faulted on remitting tuition for the students as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties (Government and Universities).
While addressing press in Kampala, the party spokesperson Arach Oyat Sharon said much as UPC stand with the Universities on Government’s failure to remit the funds in time, it is not proper to target the direct beneficiaries to recover funds.
“The beneficiaries of the loan scheme are the students of vulnerable families who are struggling to make ends meet and are unable to finance the education of their children at higher learning institutions. The only way they are expected to service the loan is to pick the transcripts and search for jobs. However when transcripts are withheld, it becomes very hard to compete for the increasingly scarce jobs in the labour market.
UPC is advising the government and public universities to work out modalities without affecting students and explore ways of how to temporarily employ such categories of graduates for loan servicing purposes as well as a providing as starting point for them (graduates).” Said Sharon
Sharon added “One area which can be looked at is the Ministry of Education which all along since independence in October 1962 has made use of untrained teachers who later on were encouraged to do in-service training or post-graduate studies if they are to remain in the education sector, a program that has benefited many. This can be benchmarked on as well as other national programs or opportunities like Parish Development Model.”
On the issue of Local council and women council election UPC called upon government even at this late hour to come out boldly and mobilize the necessary resources for holding the delayed Women Council and Local Council 1 elections.
Sharon said elected office bearers always renew their mandate through an electoral vote, and when such a vote is not exercised it undermines the power of the vote and democracy. Adding that it gets more complicated if such office bearers are to sign key documents or preside over important meetings and validity of their decisions, can be challenged in courts of law.
“These are some of the important areas that can meaningfully call for a supplementary budget. Otherwise any country that fails to raise funds for such a noble electoral function, complicates governance and leadership goals that undermines directly the efforts towards deepening democracy.” Said Sharon.
In the same way UPC has revealed that Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Oyam North Constituency Dr. Eunice Otuko Apio will be swearing in on Thursday 20 th July 2023 at the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda and thus officially start her duties.
