HOIMA, UGANDA: A team from the Bunyoro University task force management committee and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development have started the programme of evaluation of pieces of land offered for the construction of the Bunyoro Public University.
Prior to this activity, on 26th May 2023, there was a nomination of a team from the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development. On 21st June 2023, there was an entry meeting of the lands ministry, Bunyoro University task force and Ministry of Education and sports officials.
Relevant Local governments were informed as a way of mobilizing and sensitizing them on the land acquisition issue for the establishment of the University.
The team arrived in Hoima City yesterday and today, they took part in surveying land at Bulera Core PTC. The land to be visited includes;
- Land of Bulera Core PTC Hoima City – 43 acres.
- Dr Wamani’s land at Buhimba- Hoima – 100 acres.
- Land at Kihonda- Masindi (100 acres)
- Land at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba (100 acres)
- Land at Birembo War Memorial Technical Institute – Kakumiro (10 acres)
- Land at Nakuyazo Forestry Reserve (3.48sq Km)
- Land at Busana site for China Communications Construction Company-Kibaale town (66 acres)
The main activities that will be carried out will include mobilization and sensitization of local leaders, confirming the area of and ownership, the opening of boundaries of land with titles, making a survey of the land, establishing the feasibility and evaluation of land/assets, suitability of land for the university and preparation of a report by the team from the ministry of lands.
The team comprising of physical planners, surveyors, valuers, University taskforce and a team from the education ministry will take 9 days till the 13th of July then hand over the report to the permanent secretary MOES on 28th July, 2023.
President Museveni had initially directed the construction of Bunyoro Public University at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba but after some scuffle on the centrality of the university, the 2021/2026 Bunyoro parliamentary caucus agreed on the idea of the collegiate model system where the nucleus will be in Hoima and two branches in greater Kibaale and greater Masindi.
According to the Taskforce Management Committee established to oversee the operationalization of the institution, the Bunyoro University of Earth and Applied Sciences will upon becoming functional have campuses in greater Hoima (main campus), greater Kibaale, and greater Masindi.
The Hoima campus will host Health science, science education, and Petrochemicals, Kibaale Campus will host Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, while greater Masindi will be the centre for Technology and Petroleum Engineering.
It is also planned that Bunyoro University will have different innovation hubs for promoting commercializing and value addition based on natural resources.
Bunyoro is one of the three major sub-regions without a public university and the operationalisation of the Earth and Applied Sciences University will be the first public university in the region.
Bunyoro sub-region consists of the following districts: Buliisa District, Hoima District, Kibaale District, Kiryandongo District, Masindi District among others.
Other zonal regions in the country without a public University are Karamoja and Bugisu regions.
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