The Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni has said that she received information that some elements in the opposition are using the Makerere University students to destabilize the higher institution of learning.
Since last week, Makerere University students have been protesting against the 15 per cent tuition increment. They demand that it should be scrapped on grounds that it is unfair to privately sponsored students.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Mrs Museveni, who is also the First Lady of Uganda, said the same opposition leaders go ahead to pay foreign media to cover the strikes and paint a bad picture about the country.
“Apparently, the political opposition in this country – who are well funded ‘somehow’ by some ‘unknown sources’ – find it useful to pay unemployed young people to riot wherever and whenever they believe they see a viable opportunity,” the First Lady said.
“Unfortunately for those who stir trouble and mislead young minds, there is one who sees what is in people’s hearts and He is the one who is the ultimate Judge; that Judge holds all of us to account; soon or later. We may not see that judgment quickly but in due time it does catch up with each one of us.”
She also blamed the government-sponsored students for leading the demonstrations.
Janet said a number of those leading the demonstrations are sponsored by government, State House and the Master Card Foundation whereas others are beneficiaries of the Higher Education students’ loan scheme started by government.
“What is most disheartening is that some of the students at the forefront of these dubious demonstrations at Makerere University are the “privileged ones.”
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