Parliament has approved three new public universities as government is put on task to explain the criteria used to recommend only the three universities and leaving out others. The new public universities have been approved after thorough scrutiny by the National Council for Higher Education. The approved universities include Kabale University in Kabale District, Lira University in Lira District and Soroti University in Soroti District.

The Minister for Education Jessica Alupo said that the new universities will equitably expand higher education to undergraduate and post graduate levels and develop human resources appropriate for the transformation and development of Uganda. She said that these universities will provide teaching and learning to all students admitted to the universities and to undertake basic and applied research critical to national development and to stimulate skills development in Uganda.

The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Professor Togboa Tikodri said that these universities will commence in teaching and research of programmes in I.C.T, public health, medicine, engineering science, teacher education, agriculture among others. He said that with a view to bridge the much needed skills gap in science and technology, it is anticipated that these universities will play a key role in developing our communities and transforming our societies towards achieving our vision 2040.

The Woman MP for Napak district Naomi Nyomera said that government should consider creating a public university in Karamoja region so that the region moves together with the others in terms of education standards. Members of Parliament also urged government to create Namasagali, Bunyoro, Rwenzori and Karamoja public universities.

The Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda says government supports access to education; it supports universities creation in all parts of the country. He said that both universities shall be established in the financial year 2017/18 to have viable public universities after being evaluated by the National Council for Higher Education.

He added that even other areas like Rwenzori and Karamoja regions will be examined for public universities

The post Parliament approves three new public universities first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The patients have complained that for the last one week, they have been denied access to the life prolonging drugs for HIV positive people and no clear explanation has been given by the hospital administrators.

The much needed ARV drugs

The chairman of KAMIDIRO persons living with HIV/AIDS Tom Odyeke says they came to the health centre III three times but they were denied access to the drugs.

Odyeke narrated that on July 1st 2011 the in-charge of the health unit Miseki Ochen who used to attend to them went on a one long annual leave and left Alex Etumu the medical officer to take charge of the management until July 30th when will resume work.

But according to Lira resident district commission Susan Akanyi Etumu the medical workers went away without informing any one.

Beatrice Amoro and Jennifer Atim both attached to ARTT clinic reportedly failed to show-up at their work place since last week according to the RDC.

The sub-county Chairperson, Joel Peter Atine said he had for the last one month been receiving complaints from patients that they have been neglected by the health workers.

Some health workers at the clinic have reportedly not been reporting to work since last week. Marion Teddy Adson a registered midwife says the government was responsible for the situation. She says only three staff at Bar health centre have been getting regular training on the management of the anti retroviral drugs.

The district health officer Dr. peter Kusolo says would conduct investigation into the misconduct at the health unit. Kusolo says he sees no reason why the patients should not be given ARVs when they are available.

ARVs are supposed to be taken on schedule and failure to take the anti-retrial rival’s at the right intervals breeds resistance of HIV to the drugs which.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

The post HIV/AIDS patients protest Hospital failure to give them ARVs first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.