President Museveni donates ambulance to Nkumba

By Philimon Badagawa

President Museveni has donated an ambulance to Nkumba
University. According to the letter issued to the guild president
Okebe Nathan last week,the president ordered the ministry of health to
purchase an ambulance for Nkumba University. The donation followed the
guild’s out cry to the president during his first visit to the
university early this year when he passed out over 300 cadres. During
this visit, Museveni pledged to donate an ambulance to the university
to combat health problems.

Okebe Nathan could not hide his gratitude on receiving the letter from
the state house and the joy almost drove him crazy as he was seen
moving from place to place showing the students the letter that he had
received. “You see, the government is working, Mzee (Museveni ) has
given us the ambulance, what else do you need….”overwhelmed Okebe told
the students..

However the donation has been received with mixed feelings since it
has come with strings attached. The university is required to
contribute ten million shillings to the ministry of health towards the
purchasing of the ambulance. “If you decide to offer a helping hand
to the poor, then why tell him to contribute, if you do so, then it
seizes to be a donation” An administrator on conditions of anonymity
said.

Students say that though the university has stayed for quite long,
the medical facilities are worth demanding. ”It’s unfortunate that the
university can not carry out a simple medical test like malaria” a
student lamented. It’s alleged that the university nurses normally
give out cash to the sick students to go to the near by clinics for
medical check up.

However, some administrators say that the guild would have requested
for some thing else other than an ambulance. “Though we luck the
ambulance, emergency cases are very rare and incase of any, we can
contact Entebbe main hospital and they can offer us assistance” the
public relation officer, Mr. Joseph Kiguundu said.

The students have extended their great appreciation to the president
for fulfilling his pledges because the absence of an ambulance has
been a great concern to many. It should be remembered that this is not
the first time President Museveni has offered assistance to Nkumba
University. Few years back, he donated a bus which the university
still uses up to date.
Despite of this, some critics have it that most university students at
Nkumba are great supporters of the ruling NRM party and they claim
that the president’s offers are thus not a surprise. “We expect such
offers where voters are ……”a student was had saying.