The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, has challenged Kabale University to use research and innovation to address rising poverty and malnutrition in the Kigezi Sub-region, saying universities must provide solutions to challenges affecting communities.
Tayebwa said institutions of higher learning should move beyond classroom teaching and use research to identify the causes of social and economic problems and guide government on practical interventions.
He made the remarks on Friday while officiating as chief guest at a farewell ceremony for Prof Joy Constance Kwesiga, who retired after 21 years of service as Vice Chancellor of Kabale University. The ceremony was held at the university playground on Kikungiri Hill in Kabale Municipality.
According to the Multidimensional Poverty Index for Districts in Kigezi Sub-region released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the region’s multidimensional poverty index stands at 0.286.
Tayebwa said rising poverty and child malnutrition remain major concerns in the region and urged the university to investigate their causes and advise government on practical interventions.
“Kigezi, we are having two concerns as government. Number one, poverty levels are going high. Why is it becoming a problem? You at Kabale University, can you study and guide us? That’s how you display relevance,” Tayebwa said.
He said malnutrition was particularly worrying, citing available records indicating that four in every 10 children in the sub-region suffer from the condition.
Tayebwa attributed part of the problem to household food insecurity, saying some parents sell most of their agricultural produce for money without retaining enough food to feed their families.
“Our study shows that the root cause of the problem is that most parents are selling all the produce; they are not even feeding the children. You are hungry for money instead of life. So how can we have that mindset change?” he asked.
He challenged Kabale University to take the lead in sensitising communities about malnutrition, household nutrition and responsible use of agricultural produce, including through partnerships with media houses.
CUE IN TAYEBWA…ON POVERTY & MALNUTRITION…RR.ENG//
Tayebwa also raised concern about graduate unemployment, warning Kabale University against producing graduates without skills that match the country’s economic needs.
He urged the institution to align its academic programmes with the government’s emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), saying this would improve graduates’ employment prospects and make it easier to attract government support.
“We want you to remain focused on the education you’re giving to our children. We don’t want you to produce graduates who will roam the streets. Follow the government’s STEM strategy,” Tayebwa said.
He added that Parliament and other decision-makers would find it easier to lobby for funding for programmes that directly support national development priorities.
“If you are asking for funds to start development studies and social sciences, I am sorry, it will be difficult, but if you are seeking funds to strengthen the School of Medicine, it will be easy for us,” he said.
CUE IN TAYEBWA…ON STEM…RR.ENG//
Meanwhile, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, Prof Joy Kwesiga, expressed regret over her failure to convince some local leaders and members of the community to fully appreciate the university’s contribution to the economic development of Kabale and the wider Kigezi region.
Prof Kwesiga said although the university had expanded significantly during her tenure, some leaders and community members had failed to recognise the economic opportunities generated by the institution.
She also cited the university’s long-running land challenge as one of her greatest regrets during her tenure.
Prof Kwesiga said efforts to secure additional land had not yielded the desired results despite several engagements between government ministries and local authorities.
She said the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, had organised three inter-ministerial meetings to address the university’s land needs.
According to Prof Kwesiga, the discussions proposed allocating between 58 and 70 acres to the university while allowing the local government to retain part of the land.
She said the Ministry of Lands had also offered to sell the land to the university, but the matter remained unresolved.
Prof Kwesiga said the university requires adequate space to support its continued expansion and described the failure to secure additional land as one of her greatest regrets during her tenure.
CUE IN PROF. KWESIGA…ON REGRET…ENG//
However, Tayebwa said the university could not achieve meaningful expansion on its current 50-acre piece of land and urged Kabale District Local Government to consider allocating more land to the institution.
He said government plans to invest more in Kabale University could be constrained by the institution’s limited land.
CUE IN TAYEBWA…ON LAND…RR.ENG//
