The government has launched an investigation into allegations surrounding the suspension of 80 students at Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals in Iganga, following concerns that the students could be prevented from sitting their final examinations.
Peter Ogwang, the State Minister for Education and Sports, told Parliament that the Ministry of Education and Sports was concerned about the matter and had begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspensions.
“As a ministry, we are concerned that this has happened. However, we have started our investigation to sort out this matter,” Ogwang said.
The minister told Parliament that the students had been suspended from sitting their final examinations after the institute’s management reportedly discovered irregularities in its fees payment system.
However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged fraud, including who was responsible and how the affected students were involved, remained unclear as the investigation got underway.
The matter was raised by Bubulo East MP John Musila, popularly known as Rastafarian, during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth, where it sparked a heated exchange among legislators from different political sides.
Musila, who appeared in a white Kaunda suit with robes around his neck, said he had taken an interest in the matter because seven of his children had studied at the institution.
His explanation drew objections from some legislators, who questioned whether he was using Parliament to pursue a personal interest.
William Taylor, the chairperson of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and MP Cohen Kyamene Amanya argued that presenting a matter linked to personal business in Parliament was inappropriate and could conflict with parliamentary rules of procedure.
They maintained that Parliament should not be used to settle private disputes, raising questions about whether Musila’s personal connection to the institution could affect how the matter was handled.
Musila, however, defended his intervention, insisting that his concern went beyond his family’s connection to the institute.
He said he was speaking up for students from poor families who might be unable to afford tuition fees but were nevertheless entitled to fair treatment, particularly when preparing to sit their final examinations.
The MP also raised concerns about what he described as a possible network of individuals benefiting from the controversy surrounding the fees payment system. He welcomed the preliminary investigations initiated by Ogwang’s team and called for the matter to be thoroughly examined.
Musila did not provide evidence in Parliament to substantiate the allegations of a possible syndicate, making it important for investigators to establish the facts and identify anyone responsible for any wrongdoing.
Speaker Oboth-Oboth came to Musila’s defence, praising what he described as the MP’s humanitarian and generous character, particularly his concern for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The speaker also questioned the suggestion that Musila’s personal interest in the matter automatically disqualified him from raising it in Parliament.
He argued that having an interest in an issue was not, in itself, a reason to prevent someone from discussing it, particularly where the matter affected other members of the public.
Musila maintained that there was nothing wrong with taking an interest in issues affecting the country, just as he took an interest in Parliament and its work.
