Kyambogo University expands to Northern Uganda with new study centre in Zombo

Zombo, (UG):- Zombo District cultural and political leaders have urged the management of Kyambogo University to consider tapping into the locally available human resources in the West Nile region at the new University study centre in Paidha Town Council.

The established study centre is expected to transform the lives of community members through the creation of various business opportunities such as rentals, food vending, and Internet services and top on the list fostering infrastructural development in the area and improved standards of living.

During the handover of the repurposed Paidha Primary Teachers College to Kyambogo University, on Monday, March 25, 2024, the leaders voiced their prayer for practical skills and sponsorship,15 slots for 10  needy girls and five boys in the Alur Kingdom respectively.

Ms Margaret Aluka, the principal of the repurposed college handed over the inventories of the institution to the immediate supervising body of the Teacher Education, Training and Development Centre of the Ministry of Education and Sports represented by Assistant Commissioner, Mr Max Okiroi.

Local community members near the now Kyambogo University study centre in Zombo have been urged to take on any available opportunities of serving and sending learners to enable the functionality of the university and ripping from the associated benefits.

Ms Grace Atim, the acting RDC of Zombo District who spoke during the function sought some merits for the residents of Zombo during job recruitment exercises saying; “We don’t expect gateman people cooking and cleaning the compound to come from the centre give that opportunity for our local people from Zombo district.”

Hon Gabriel Okumu, MP Okoro constituency called upon the management of the varsity to roll out programs that can exploit the potential of Zombo as an agricultural district and food basket.

“Organise for courses which are vocational and very marketable such that we don’t produce job seekers in this food basket for Northern Uganda,” Okumu noted.

Prof. Eli Katunguka, the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University speaking at the function iterated their readiness to deliver services and as well articulated policies on recruitment of staff saying; “It’s our policy that people to work in these centres must come from the area we don’t export people from Kampala.”

“I promise to undertake stock of local capacity to guide us in the priority courses,” Prof Katunguka emphasized.

The now repurposed Paidha Teachers College was established in 1982 and sits on about 80.9 acres of land and was so far the only teacher training college in the Greater Alur subregion.

However, due to changes in policy for admission of learners, its enrollment dwindled to about 86 students by the time of closure hence given other factors at play didn’t withstand the phaseout and repurposing program of the government to deliver on the Teacher policy of 2019. The college is now officially flagged as a Kyambogo University study centre for Northern Uganda.

The centre becomes the third established by Kyambogo University after Soroti (Eastern), Bushenyi (Western) and now Paidha, for the Northern region, which is expected to commence admissions and operations by August 2024 with academic programs in the Faculty of Education.