SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE- Institutions of higher learning in Rwanda are bracing for their merger with the East African Students Union, which will have its seat in Rwanda.

Geoffrey Gasasira, member of the steering committee and guild president of the National University of Rwanda said that plans to hold elections for the executive body were in advanced stages.

"We intend to conduct elections in November this year in order to fill 20 vacant slots at the secretariat level,” said Gasasira.

The East African Community Students Union opened in 2006 through the initiative of the Universities of Makerere and Dar es Salaam bringing vast neighbours together.

After Rwanda’s entry in the East Africa community, Rwandan Institutions of higher learning were also invited to join the students union and have since attended steering committee meetings in Kenya and Tanzania.

"We aim at creating awareness of the Union first before bringing in students at the lower levels,” added Gasasira.

As part of that awareness drive, students from the different institutions intend to conduct what has been dubbed as ‘the great trek.’

"Students from higher institutions of learning will embark on a journey that will see them visit all five countries. The trek will start in Uganda, then to Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and finally to Rwanda,” said Gasasira.

Gasasira added that during the trek, students will be engaged in community work in the different Countries.

A peace club will be launched in Burundi while trees will be planted in Rwanda.

Rwanda has 18 higher institutions of higher education and according to Gasasira, 8 of them are already members after paying a membership fee of $100.

An electoral collage comprising of 250 delegates from the five Countries will vote people into office with the post of President expected to rotate in the member countries.

"We intend to lobby governments in the member countries to consider uniform tuition fees for all students from member countries,” said Gasasira.

Ends