Bunyoro University task force secure varsity land at Kigumba

KIRYANDONGO, UGANDA: The Bunyoro University task force have concluded the search for the university land after traversing the 8 districts in the Bunyoro Sub-region.

The task force chaired by Mr Kyamanywa Samuel started the hunt on 2nd July to identify a suitable piece of land that will host various colleges of the university.

Speaking at Kiryandongo district headquarters, Hon. Aliguma Edith Adyeeri, the district chairperson expressed high gratitude to the president for offering Bunyoro a public university and called upon all stakeholders to collaborate and secure the land at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba.

Hon Karubanga Jacob Ateenyi, the Kibanda South MP stated that the duty of leaders is to mobilise and find land to give the task force. He requested the task force to put land at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba in high consideration because it was the first place to be earmarked by the president of the university.

“President had his interest a long time ago for the whole university to be hosted at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba but due to political issues in the Sub-region, we agreed to have a collegiate model system so that all greater districts host colleges. It is therefore my plea that the task force puts land at Kigumba in high regard because first of all it is the President’s priority land and secondly the community around already has an element of hosting the university ever since the president made the pronouncement”, Karubanga stated.

He was however dismayed by tactics played by college administrators whenever they are called upon to agree on giving out land.

“I have tried several times on a personal level to engage the college administrators with hope to receive a positive response but I get surprised to see them seemingly against the idea of giving away land for Bunyoro University “, he noted.

Karubanga further stated that the committee working on the curriculum is working on a paper to include a bachelor’s in Cooperatives and business studies as a strategic course because Uganda is now using the parish development model system that is running on SACCOs.

Mr Nsamba, the Deputy Principal of Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba stated that the college administration was not completely aware of the visit by the task force.

He further quoted the Universities and tertiary institutions act of 2001/2006 section 78 which States that ” the governing council shall be a governing body of the public tertiary institution and shall exercise the general management of the affairs of the tertiary institutions and exercise general control of the property of the institution”.

Mr Karubanga stated that the administration has no instruction from the ministry to give away land and has not got any advice from the Permanent Secretary of, ministry of Education about giving out the land.

Martins Jachan Gwokto, the Kiryandongo district Chief Administrative Officer stated that the office of the CAO communicated to the principal about the meeting.

“Recently I have been trying to engage the principal but reliably confirmed to me that they were informed by the Ministry of Education about a team coming to verify land at the college but from my observation, you are giving us the position of the principal which shouldn’t be the case”, Gwoktho stated.

Agaba Ronald representing the Ministry of Lands stated that land is being assessed based on four principles;

1. Tenure system
2. Value of the land
3. Land use aspect
4. Land development.

“Right now we are doing reconnaissance so that we develop ways of handling the land in case we come back”, Agaba stated.

Ssebunya Henry, the Kiryandongo district Deputy RDC cautioned the college administration against attempting to stall a government program that will benefit not only Bunyoro but the whole country and the world.

The land that was visited by the team included

1. Land of Bulera Core PTC Hoima City – 43 acres.
2. Dr Wamani’s land at Buhimba- Hoima – 100 acres.
3. Land at Kihonda- Masindi (100 acres)
4. Land at Uganda Cooperative College Kigumba (100 acres)
5. Land at Birembo War Memorial Technical Institute – Kakumiro (10 acres)
6. Land at Nakuyazo Forestry Reserve (3.48sq Km)
7. Land at Busana site for China Communications Construction Company-Kibaale town (66 acres)

According to the Task Force 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.