Parliament puts NUR on the spot

Members of Parliament have expressed their anger over what they termed as ‘total mismanagement’ of the National University of Rwanda and implicated the varsity Rector, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, for poorly managing the institution. The revelation comes as a follow up of a Parliamentary probe that was commissioned sometime ago to scrutinize several problems in institutions of higher learning. The report revealed that all 26 institutions operate in pathetic conditions. Education Minister, Dr. Charles Muligande, was in parliament yesterday to inform lawmakers what the government was doing to arrest the situation. MP Yvonne Mukayisenga was the first to take the floor, saying that the NUR Rector has not effectively delivered and called on the ministry to look into the issue. “The Rector has grossly mismanaged the institution. I have evidence , and if the Ministry wants, I can provide them with proof,” said Mukayisenga, but could not substantiate how Prof Lwakabamba has mismanaged the country’s oldest University. In his intervention, MP Ezekias Rwabuhihi hinted at the urgent need of modern laboratories at all institutions and singled out NUR to be considered first. “Over the years, the performance of the National University has gone down, and this is very worrying. The government should address this immediately” said Jean Baptiste Rucibigango, another lawmaker. Hon. Jacqueline Mukakanyamugenge suggested that the minister meets separately with the university administration and students to identify the root cause of these problems so that they can be addressed from their source. In his address to the MPs, Muligande watered down the MPs concerns regarding the University and said that Prof. Lwakabamba has not underperformed and the institution is currently performing to the expectations, despite minor setbacks. “Sometimes people may pick up an issue with someone because that person is strict with his work. The Rector has not underperformed. The day his weakness surpasses his success, he will be relocated or resign,” Muligande convinced the lawmakers. Following Muligande’s explanations, MPs were convinced and recommended that the government increases its efforts in offering quality education at higher institutions of learning. Prof. Lwakabamba attended yesterday parliamentary session from the public gallery. When approached for a comment, he refused to comment saying; “I was being attacked individually and I wasn’t given forum to explain what was said about me, so I am not going to defend myself in the newspapers.” Ends