DR. MESHARCH KATUSIIME HITS BACK AT HON.ELIODA’S DEFENCE ON RWABUTURA TAX WAIVER

Posted On 27 Sep 2019

By : mk

Post Views: 574

In Sheema

It was interesting to read your response to the allegations of Mr. Richard Muhangi that you are sabotaging the construction of Rwabutura Church. You did well only that any critical reader can easily poke holes in your response – one of the holes I can poke is your continuing to mix Ankole Western University in the political hot, negative and retrogressive exchanges. In any case the missive that you were responding to was not about AWU. It was about Rwabutura church fundraising issues. You can politicize church and other church projects but not a university. Many a time and quite often ideals such as the quality of education lose out in the political game that is played out by politicians who mind mainly about their own political survival at the expense of institutions. By labeling some people “sabotours” of a university you create an image in the minds of the general public that the university is not yet stable and that has a very big effect on enrollment. It builds a very negative image of Ankole Western University – our dear institution. By trying hard to show you are a savior of Ankole Western University, you inadvertently undermine the university and her brand association and in turn the management of the institution.

In business language, brand association refers to the deep-seeded attitudes and feelings a customer has toward an organization or company. When brand association is negative, negative attitudes are more likely to come into a consumer’s mind before positive ones. Bad publicity can contribute to negative brand association, which can in turn reduce sales over time. Changing attitudes and brand associations can take a great deal of time and can also be costly, as an organization might be forced to invest in additional advertising and campaigns to correct negative attitudes. This is what has been happening at Ankole Western University – we need to concentrate on building the brand of a university that promotes Christian values of Love, Compassion, Hard work, Accountability, Integrity and Discipline.

Any controversial information about Ankole Western University given out to the public undermines the university. I implore you to restrain yourself from making comments that potentially may be injurious to the image of AWU.

Having said that let me add one or two things. As you know, I have exchanged serious missives with you before about AWU especially when you provoke me with funny accusations. I like the fact you treat my missives with respect and you try to respond to my criticisms with action. Last year when I wrote a statement seriously castigating you about your role in the stagnation of AWU, you responded positively by closely working with the Chancellor and Bishop of West Ankole Diocese and other stakeholders to mobilize funds for Ankole Western University. When you were still using CAD as a scapegoat for failure to mobilise funds for AWU fundraising, I told you that a university is a national and international institution and therefore the fundraising has to take national and international dimensions. I advised you to use your position as Minister to mobilize resources for AWU. You are a good student and a quick learner. For the first time in almost 25 years as MP we saw you engaging fellow MPs and Ministers to mobilize funds for a community project – AWU. For being responsive to criticism positively, let me thank you for acting as a progressive leader in the case of AWU project. What is critical now is to ensure that the funds raised are placed in the hands of management of AWU under the able leadership of Dr. Kamukama Wilberforce to implement the priorities of AWU as per university council resolutions like staff welfare and the completion of the Science Block. I am sure the council will support the Vice Chancellor to take the lead in implementing decisions and policies. If that is done, the VC will be given space to maximize his potential. The University Council under the leadership of Dr. Nathan Karema of which you are a key member is doing a great job so far and we thank God.

Lastly I can see you are a very good Christian going by the verses you quoted in your missive responding to Richard Muhangi. Let me also add one or two verses in the Bible. Mathew 6: 3. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.