The university, originally established in 1999 under affiliation with Busoga Diocese and the Church of Uganda, had its license revoked in 2017 by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
KAMPALA, UGANDA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — After a six-year closure, Busoga University is set to reopen in August 2023, according to the taskforce management committee appointed last June to oversee its establishment. The six-member committee, headed by Prof John Tabuti, has already reviewed the university’s previous academic programs and has selected those aligned with the niche of technological innovation and value chain management.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor over the weekend, Prof Tabuti stated that the university will offer academic programs in agricultural sciences, health, theology, education, and business management, with engineering programs currently in development.
“The taskforce has already reviewed the programmes that existed at the university at the time it was closed, which aligned with the niche of technological innovation and value chain management.”
”We have selected academic programmes in agricultural sciences, health, theology, education, and business management, and have also started the process of developing engineering programmes and handling others like infrastructure core policies, including the human resources manual, admissions policy, open, and distance learning policy.”
In 1999, the University was established in affiliation with Busoga Diocese under the Church of Uganda. However, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) revoked its license in 2017, citing the institution’s alleged lack of qualified staff, unaccredited course offerings, and conferring fake degrees to over 1,000 students.
Following a directive by President Museveni in 2018, the University was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Sports to facilitate its reopening as a public institution.
Repair of University Buildings
The committee is working on the bills of quantities for repairing the university’s buildings at Iganga, Kamuli, Bugiri, and Jinja. Once the repair process is complete, the university will issue a contract and have the works completed by June 2023.
Land-Related Issues
Although land-related issues were earlier cited as one of the factors delaying the operational process, Prof Tabuti stated that the university has seven plots of land, and all land-related issues have been sorted out.
In a significant move, the trustees of Busoga University Limited, in collaboration with the Church of Uganda, inked transfer forms for the university’s land to the Ministry of Education and Sports back in January.
According to official sources, three plots of land have already been deposited with the Ministry, marking a crucial step towards the further development of education infrastructure in the region. This landmark development is expected to pave the way for a brighter future for aspiring students seeking quality education opportunities in the country.
The remaining four plots are with Bank of Baroda, with whom the committee has reached an agreement on the process of releasing them.
Graduation for Students
For students who didn’t graduate by the time of the university’s closure, Prof Tabuti assured that they would graduate as soon as the university is reopened.
Conclusion
The reopening of Busoga University is a significant milestone for Uganda’s education sector, particularly in Busoga region. The institution’s focus on technological innovation and value chain management is timely, given the growing importance of these areas in the country’s economic development.
The successful reopening of the university will provide opportunities for students to pursue relevant courses and contribute to the region’s social and economic growth.
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