By Chris Mugasha
Kampala: Following the increase in cases of non-communicable diseases which have left many people worried and stranded, the Kampala International University (KIU) has announced plans of establishing specialized institutes for the above diseases.
The University’s Chairman Board of Trustees Dr. Hassan Bassajjabalaba announced the plans on Saturday during the university’s 30th graduation ceremony that was held at the University’s main campus-Kansanga in Kampala.
Bassajjabalaba said he has already started engaging/negotiating with some of the top Universities and other development partners in the European countries to see how they can support KIU to be able to establish both the cancer and heart institutes. These will be the first private cancer and heart institutes started privately in Uganda.
The chairman disclosed that about 60million (US-Dollars) is required if the above initiative is to take off. Bassajjabalaba said 30% is being mobilized from the partners in Europe.
At the graduation, Bassajjabalaba said KIU has so far produced about 4500 medical doctors of which 1900 are specialists. “KIU is 2nd after Makerere University interms of the number of doctors being trained,” Bassajjabalaba said.
The chairman commended the University leadership/management for the great milestones and successes registered. “You’re taking KIU to another level and we are on a highway to yet another level,” Bassajjabalaba commended.
Bassajjabalaba the proprietor of KIU challenged Universities saying it’s high time they change from the traditional ways of doing things. “Education is going to another level. Universities are becoming private organizations with one dean coordinating three universities, while another dean is responsible for grants mobilization,” Bassajjabalaba said before disclosing how he has been in 10Universities in Europe benchmarking. “There are grants and to attract them, you must write,” he noted.
Recently, while speaking at the burial of his friend Obadiah Ntebekeine Rushambuza Bassajjabalaba challenged the MPs to cause a paradigm shift in the health sector saying that the allocations they are making to projects like Kiruddu hospital and the delayed Lubowa hospital are‘wastage’ of resources.
“Those funds should be channeled to equipping and modernizing the existing hospitals to begin offering specialized services to Ugandans,” he said.
Bassajjabalaba further asked MPs to draft a policy of leasing the public hospitals to investors who will later inject in their money to modernize the hospitals. “In many countries where health systems are working well, government has partnered with the private sector, religious institutions to turn around the health services,” Bassajjabalaba argued. He also challenged MPs to expedite the process of passing the health insurance bill.
“There investors who would like to invest their money in health through health insurance schemes but the way it stands now, they cannot dare,” he added.
The KIU Vice chancellor Prof. Muhammed Ngoma commended Bassajjabalaba for his unwavering investments and support towards the advancement of higher education in Uganda and the East African region. “Bassajjabalaba is one of the most successful proprietors of private universities in Uganda,” Ngoma commended during the graduation.
Officiating at the graduation ceremony, the Minister for Information and National Guidance Dr Chris Baryomunsi congratulated the graduands for the journey completed after years of ‘sweating’.
The Minister thanked Bassajjabalaba noting that, “the progress that we see is largely because of his vision hence contributing to the social and economic transformation of our country- Uganda and the region.
Meanwhile, residents of Bushenyi district are filled with joy and anxiety following Bassajjabalaba’s announcement that Bushenyi will host next year’s KIU’s graduation at its Western campus in Ishaka town in Bushenyi Municipality where the University will also be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. End.
