He is also president of the International Students' Union at HiOA, and the first international student elected into the HiOA Student Parliament.
- I was shocked when I was elected, I did not expect it since I was competing with Norwegian students. And that was probably me being racist, but that taught me that sometimes people are not like you think they are. Norwegians celebrate diversity,hesays.
Mutebe explains that the article about him being elected into student parliament was noted in four newspapersinUganda:
- People did not understand it. They voted for you, there?!, theyaskedme.
Mutebe is in Norway as part of the student quota scheme, where students come from developing countries, get an education and student financing through Lånekassen, and if they return to their home country to work there, their student debt will be waived after ayear. The scheme has been discontinued. Henry Mutebe is of thelastlot.
Universityclosed
Henry Mutebe is concerned though. For several reasons, though not necessarilyforhimself.
- My university in Kampala is closed, and has been for several months, he says, explaining that this will keep many students from not only writing applications to participate in exchange programs, but from taking their final exams, getting their diplomas - or applying their education toactualwork.
Makerere University, Ugandas largest, has been closed due to lack of fundingand the staff not getting paid. For the last few weeks talks have been going on, and the government has agreed to provide additional funding, and guarantee thelecturerspay.
Mutebe wrote about the closing in Khrono on December 9th, in an open letter: Dear Ugandan Parliament.
The university reopened on December24th lastyear.
Hadoptions
Mutebe explainsthat Norway createsambassadors and strategic future investments abroad by providing education to studentslikehim.
- Education is a strategic investment.It is self-defeating, when you think about it, to end the quota scheme, he says, p
