KAMPALA, UGANDA: The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has directed a temporary closure of Great Lakes Regional University in Kanungu District for a period of one month to allow investigations to take place without interference.
In a letter dated November 23rd, 2021, signed by Prof Mary Okwakol, the NCHE Executive Director, the University was ordered to close by Wednesday, November 24, 2021 (today) amid contested ownership and poor governance of the institution.
According to Prof Okwakol, the closure for one month was reached at in a meeting held on Monday, November 22, 2021, which established compliance at Great Lakes Regional University.
According to the letter which is addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, the non-compliance issues were based on the contestation of the ownership, poor management and governance and other recurrence issues of non-governance of the University.
“Please be informed that the decision to halt the operation at the University is to enable National Council of Education to conduct throughout investigations into the issues discussed in the meeting that took place November 22nd 2021 in accordance with Section 5(f) of the Universities and Other Institutions Act 2001 (Amended)”. The letter reads in parts.
Prof Okwakol directed that in these circumstances, the management, staff, and students must vacate the University premises by 12 noon on Wednesday 24th November 2021, and should only return when National Council for Higher Education communicates clearing the operations at the University to resume.
The closure follows contestation of the ownership of the Great Lakes Regional University between Honest Wilkins Natukwasa and Dr Hamlet Mbabazi Kabushenga and the matter is currently in courts of law.
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