Life Experience  of  Non- Muslims  at  IUIU
By Bukuri  Kakooza
The  decision to establish an Islamic University in Uganda came out of the Heads  of  states  summit  of  the  OIC member states that  took  place  in  1974  in  Lahore,  Pakistan.  It  was  decided  that  two  Islamic Universities  be  set  up  in Africa;  one  in  Niger  to  serve  the  French  speaking  African  states  and  one  in  Uganda  to  serve  the  English  speaking states.
In  the  case  of the  IUIU,  preliminary  works  began  and it  was decided then  that the University would  be  set  up  in  West  Nile  district  of Arua  at  a  place  called  Arivu. Unfortunately,  the  University  never  took  off  until the  late  Idi  Amin  Dada’s  government  was  overthrown.  During  the  early   1980s the  then   government  changed the  site  of the University  from  Arua  to  Mbale  and  offered the  premises  of  Nkoma  Secondary School  to  accommodate  the  University.
However, the  university  did  not  start until  February  10, 1988  when  it  opened  its  doors  to  its  pioneer  students.  The  University  started  with  two  faculties-the  faculty  of  Islamic  and  Arabic  Languages   and  the  faculty  of  Education.  Initially it was  thought  that  the  Faculty  of  medicine  would  also  be  started,  but  when  government  of  Uganda  withdrew  the  school  of hygiene  which  it had  previously  donated,  it  became  impossible  to  start  a  medical  course  then.
The Main Campus is approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi), north of the city of Mbale, in eastern Uganda, on the Mbale-kumi Road. The coordinates of the main campus are 01 05 35N, 34 10 37E (Latitude: 1.0930; Longitude: 34.1770). 
Students at all campuses of IUIU  are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. In case of;                                                                                                                                      A. Female students  must put on traditionally accepted Hijaab, covering all parts of their bodies except the face, fingers palms and feet. The hair should be covered too,
They should not put on male dressings ,  All other types of tight fitting dresses that portray/depict the body alignment or those that are short, transparent and slittedare strictly forbidden. Transparent head covers are also not allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B. Male students
 Male students are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. Female clothing, shorts, bangles, necklaces, or other ungentlemanly clothes e.g. sleeveless vests, kinky dresses, dread locks etc are not permissible to male students.
Non-Muslims at IUIU  though  live  a different  life ,  according to Kamugisha Maureen a  second year  mass  communication student at  females’  campus  kabojja life here is not difficult as  such because  on  Sundays  they  allow  us  non-moslems  to  go  out  for  prayers  though  moslems  are  favoured  most  mainly  in  students  politics when even us  are  capable  of  leading  this  institution  and  the main  problem is  the  University  forcing  us to  do  some  papers which  are  not in  line with the  National  Council  for  Higher  Education (NCHE).
At  IUIU, papers  like Introduction to Arabic  and  Introduction  to  Islam are  done  by  every  student  regardless of  religion , tribe , country and  the  programme  offered,  failure  to do  them  and  pass  by  50% a student  can  not  graduate.
And  also  someone  to  head  students’  body or  to  be on  the executive must  be  a  practicing  Muslim  non  muslims are  given  smaller  posts  like  state  ministers  and  member  of  parliament.
“Muslims are favoured to  the extent  that  even  in  class they  are considered  first”. Aggrieved Maureen added.
However ,  Amulen Maureen (22), doing Bachelor of Development Studies at main campus  in  Mbale who  joined  IUIU because it  builds moral characters in students especially female students in terms of dressing despite the fact that being a non Muslim she finds it a bit exigent to put on hijab (Islamic dress) for the whole day.  “They  should  atleast  leave  us  to  put  on  our  usual  clothing’s  in  Weekends".  She added.
According  to  the  University Public  Relations  Officer  ( PRO),  Mr Lukoya  Shaban, bringing the  education  gap  that  was  created  by  the  mistakes  made  during  post-colonial  Uganda;  which  left  many  Muslims  lagging  behind   education  wise ,  it’s  the  reason  why  IUIU 

Minister Orders, NCHE
By Bukuri Kakooza
Kampala: The  Minister for  Education  Major  (Retired)  Jessica  Alupo  has  ordered  National  Council  for  Higher  Education  (NCHE)  to  be  fast  and  track  the  grading  system  process  within  30days.  “the  process  should  be    fast tracked  not  to  exceed  30days  so  that  malaise is  settled  once   and  for  all”. Alupo said.
The  resolution  came  out    during  the  meeting  that  was  held yesterday between  the  leadership  of  Uganda  National  Students  Association,  (UNSA)  and  the  minister for  Education  at  minister’s  office on  Embassy  house,  parliamentary  avenue.
According  to  the  president  UNSA  His Excellency Matada  Abubakar,  after  a  long  struggle,  finally  there  is  light  at  the  end  of  the  tunnel  on the  issue  of  the  grading  system  that  got  some  of  us  in  custody  for  the  first  time in our  lives.  “I  was  going  to  retire  from  UNSA  unhappy  ,  I  feel  more   delighted  and  will  comfortably  hand  over  next  month  God  willing”.  Abubakar added.
Pressed  on  the   idea  of  students already  affected  ,   NCHE  said  one  can  present  his  or  her  results  to  them   for  reclassification.
In 2008  NCHE  came  up   with  a   new  grading   system,   some  universities  took  it  on  and  others  rejected  it  as  unfair.  Among  those that   implemented  is  Islamic  University  in Uganda  (IUIU)  and  Uganda  Christian  University  (UCU). Makerere University  and  Kyambogo  rejected  it  from  then  NCHE  considered  revising it  and  that’s  what  had  taken  ages  up to  date.  Students  at  IUIU  for  example  have  been  grappling with  too  high grading  system  with  a  3.9  one  has  a  second  class  lower ,  yet  with 3.6  at  MUK  one  has  a  second  class  upper.  Now  with  this  gazetting  all  shall be  harmonised, and  people  will  face a  levelled  ground  in the   field.
Current one
4.4-5.0 first class
4.0-4.3 upper second
3.0-3.9 second lower

Revised one
4.4-5.0 fisrt class
3.6-4.3 upper second class
2.8-3.5 second class lower

What transpired in UNSA General meeting?
Bukuri Kakooza
The 26th Uganda National Students Association annual General meeting started on Monday 26th January 2014 with the registration and arrival of the delegates across the country at Teso College, Aloet soroti District in Teso sub-region.                              Over 500 delegates from different higher institutions of learning and some few from selected secondary schools across the country were registered.
National students Council discusses issues affecting students and elects new leaders. Last year’s council were held at St Augustine University Mbuga opened by then premier Amama Mbabazi. Every University and tertiary institution is expected to send 3 representatives mainly Guild president, Speaker, and women affairs secretary. Every district is also expected to send 3 representatives, Chairman, speaker and gender secretary.
The delegates were frustrated by lack of rooms to sleep in whereby 10 delegates used to sleep in one room even without circuits for charging.
 For the first time in 11years the council was officially opened by President Museveni who is also the Patron of the Association on Tuesday 27th 2014 at 10am, he first re-corganised the National NRM vice chairman for eastern region Hon Capt. Mike Mukula and then thanked the student leaders for being organised and promised to support UNSA activities as longer as the students  remains  focused and don’t follow people with pseudo information who are misleading the population “I like organised people like you”. Museveni said.
In attendance was also Minister of Education and Sports Hon Jesca Alupo, Lt. Col Henry Masiko Commissioner , Patriotism Secretariat Office of the President ,who presented a paper on the Highlights of the students movement and prospects for a more patriotic and Democratic UNSA , Mr .Mondo Kyateka Ass. Commissioner for youth and children affairs , Ministry of Gender , Labour and social development who also presented a paper on Unlocking youth potential through wealth creation for sustainable development: a remedy for unemployment.
The high seat of the Presidency was highly contested by three candidates Nagenjwa Sharon from Uganda Christian University (UCU) , who was independent, Mulundu Edgar Wandwasi from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) on NRM ticket and Lillian Aber from Makerere University also independent but mainly supported by FDC.
The nominations and Elections was held on Thursday 29th early in the morning and ended on Friday morning at 6:44am whereby Lillian Aber merged the winner with 137 votes followed by Mulundi Edgar Wanwasi ,  Nagenjwa Sharon respectively .
Lillian Aber is going to succeed Hon Matadah Abubakar from Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) at a handover ceremony on 14th February 2015.

Busoga region tops in Child sexual abuse

Busoga- singled out to be the number one region with cases of child abuse in the country according to the report released by ANPPCAN last year.

While reading the ANPPCAN report to public on the launch against child sexual abuse at Jinja Busoga square, the deputy RDC Jinja district Mr Sakawa Eric revealed that Busoga region receives 30% of child sexual abuse in every month and other cases never reported.

Mr Sakwa blamed this on parents for negligence of their children which has led many joining drugs, street life extending the vice to higher chances of being un avoidable, adding that schools administrators have also given rise to the vice due to school policy prescribing children to go early to school exposing young ones at the risk of being raped.  

He also pointed out the Bodaboda riders,chapat sellers tax drivers, video halls  and youth idlers especially in slum and rural areas in the region for  luring the children into the evil act shutting their future. It is at this point that he warned offenders and threatened to deal with them accordingly.

He also paused a challenge to the police and accused  them for conspiring with the culprits and release criminals ,a thing culminating the vice in the region .It  is at this point that he warned to arrest and deal with the police officers who engage in  the act according to law.

Mr Sakwa cautioned parents and victims to report the cases to the authority as the only way to reduce on the rampant vice in the region.

He noted that the act has led to increasing number of teenage mothers who are un productive to the economy of the country, adding that it is also a path for the spread of HIV AIDS and rampant poverty.

He appreciated the media for being the key parties in reporting the vice and encouraged them to keep doing its watchdog role, hoping for the decline at rate which it is pronounced in the region. End

-By Byekwaso Fazir