Bitamazire and Kaunda at the launch of the university on Monday
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
FORMER Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda yesterday asked African nations to support Barrack Obama become the US president.
Addressing students at the launch of Cavendish University Uganda, Kaunda said Africa had the potential to conquer the world in spite of past problems of colonialism, apartheid and slavery.
“The people of Africa should be proud of this young man called Obama. He has proved that there is hope for Africa and that Africa has great power to succeed. Who knew that one time, an African would be competing for the US presidency?”
Kaunda said other blacks, including Martin Luther King Jr., who made attempts to make a difference in dominant white countries were assassinated.
“We should also pray for Obama so that he is protected against bad forces. We should also, as Africans, pray for him to succeed. It is amazing for an African too reach such a level.”
Obama is a junior US Senator from Illinois and presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the US presidential election this year. He is the first African-American to be nominated by a major political party for president.
Kaunda, who is the chancellor of the new university, said Uganda had provided a good environment for investment. Kaunda also presided over the official opening of the university.
It was attended by the pioneer students and the academic staff. He announced that the university would offer 12 scholarships in the 2009/10 academic year.
“We are happy with the Government, which has helped us to set up a university here. It will benefit Ugandans and we hope to make a contribution to the education of Africans.”
Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire said the Government had provided six acres of land in Entebbe for the construction of the university’s main campus. In the meantime, the university will operate in the former premises of Makerere High School in Wandegeya.
