Gulu, (UG): Gulu University Council, led by its Chairperson, Mrs Mary Theresa Obbo Wednesday, September 27, held a high-level meeting with the newly installed Chancellor, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda on issues among other developments at the institution and the University Specialized Teaching Hospital.
The meeting which took place at the former Prime Minister of Uganda’s residence in Kampala was also attended by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Openjuru George Ladaah, and other members of the University governing council.
The Council Chairperson told the meeting that the University heavily needs the support of the Chancellor to see that the University development funds are increased to accommodate the many developments the University is taking like the Business and Development Centre, Senate building, and University Stadium among others.
Mrs Obbo also made it clear that the delegation also wanted to brief the Chancellor on matters of the specialized Hospital that tops the media in Uganda by the 26th of September 2023.
Gulu University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Openjuru informed the Chancellor that the institution has received feedback from the Education Ministry on the issues of the proposed specialized Teaching Hospital. However, the VC says they have not gotten any from the Ministry of Health on the same yet based on the letter the President wrote as quoted in the Media, the Ministry of Health is mandated and tasked to spearhead initiate the process of the Memorandum of Understanding with the VAMED, the developer of the project.
To this effect, Dr Rugunda raised a call to the Minister of Health, Dr Aceng Ruth Jane and alerted her that he had a delegation from Gulu University following up among other issues, the Specialized Teaching Hospital.
The Minister in response said that she had just finished a meeting with the developer by that time and she would write to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development for them to make a decision on the project since is a loan and not a grant.
Dr Aceng added that her Ministry is stalled by the need for a loan clearance by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development if viable since is still at the proposal level.
Dr Rugunda then advised the delegation to give it one month as the Ministries of Health and Finance, work on the part that is the most crucial for the project.
“There is a strong goodwill from the President, our role is to ensure that nothing blocks or delays this important project”, Dr Rugunda noted, before he promised to knock on all possible doors to see that Gulu University develops to greater heights.
Ojok James Onono, Gulu University Communications officer told DailyExpress that the meeting with the Chancellor has given the University clear guidance on the matter and completely sorted the gap the University officials had on the project.
“We really thank the Minister of Health for all her efforts to see that the project is a success and I can tell you that the University officials will patiently wait for updates as the Chancellor has guided. I must say, we are all excited and can’t wait for His Excellency the President to do groundbreaking once the process between the Ministry of Health and Finance is sorted,” Mr Ojok said in an interview on Thursday evening.
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