President Museveni has directed the Education and Sports ministry to takeover Mountains of the Moon and Busoga universities.
Museveni's directive is contained in his January 8th 2018 letter to the Education and Sports Minister, Janet Kataha Museveni.
Museveni notes that although government didn't plan to take over the two private universities, there is need to come to the rescue of students studying there.
"I am writing to direct you to take over two private universities which some of our people acting in good faith, started many years ago. The two universities are Mountains of the Moon and Busoga University," reads Museveni's letter.
In the letter, Museveni also notes that given the popularity of university education, government has established public universities in West Nile, Lango, Teso, Ankole, Kabale, Acholi and Bukedi and that there are plans to establish more in Bugisu, Sebei, Masaka, Bunyoro, Mubende and Karamonja.
Last year, the management of Mountains of the Moon University applied to government to take it over and turn it into a public university. The private institution located in Fort Portal, was established in 2005 by a team of eminent people from Tooro region, as a community university.
Professor John Kasenene, the Vice Chancellor Mountains of the Moon University, said they can no longer afford the high costs of running the institution and face a huge challenge to pay staff salaries and improve infrastructure.
Management argued that once government takes over the university, it will enhance the salaries of staffs, improve infrastructures and enable their students to access education loans.
The founders include Professor Edward Rugumayo, Justice Seith Manyindo and Tom Butime among others.
