I again have no option but thank Obaa Bonton for his educative submission.The
kind of arguments that Vasco and Co. are putting up is as if the government
came up with a least of "things" that the people of WN want and we rejected
them all and chose a public university.Lets see them.
Electricity: Yes I agrre with Vasco that in this era power drives every
thing.Even the University will require power.But its better we get the
university first and power will follow.In any case institutions like the nurse
training have thrived and survived inadequate power.For your information
despite the hitches over Nyagak, work is ongoing and hook or crook we shall
have some reliable power sooner than later.Face it or leave it.Again I agree
that the National grid would have been better with some "buts" which we can
discuss later.
International Airport:This is desirable but to transport who where.How many
people from West Nile take International flights that are beneficial to the
entire region.By the way most domestic flights to arua are about to close , not
due to bad state of the airfield but the dwindling number of passengers.The
main reason for this will follow under road infrastructure.Rather a good Public
University will attract students from far DRC and Sudan etc.What should come
first.Facts: Alreadya new passenger terminal is in advanced stages of
construction which will be followed by the tarmacking of the run ways.With more
pressure more improvements will follow.
Roads:Am happy Vasco was in the region in January and believe he went by road
and especially during day time.Those who stay in the town centre now run the
"risk" of being on good tarmack from Arua Park to Arua town safe for the
current construction hiccups.Later this year the road from Vurra custom via
Manibe to Koboko-Oraba will be put to bitumen.What more can i say.Lets keep
alive to see what i am saying.The good roads have reduced the number of people
flying.
Optic fibre:I believe we are talking about fast and cheap internet
connectivity.Hm.I think the fibre moves on ground.The current state funded
fibre laying is as far as Bombo,near Masaka and Entebbe.The fact is that since
it is phased, Arua, 500Km could never have been reached before Bombo, Masindi,
Nebbi etc.What extent of development can the internet bring to WestNile
compared to a public University.In any case many of the Telecom service
providers are already ahead of government in extending these services to the
countryside.I also hope Vasco saw some road side excavation when he travelled
to WestNile.But ther is internet in WestNile now.
Schools:The school infrastructure is basically in place except more is needed
and the issue of teachers has to be looked into.As Obaa correctly noted, where
will the products of the schools gain university admission without the
unnecessary costs of travel to Kampala etc.Let us see the number of students
enrolling in branches of private universities in WestNile.That will tell any
one the quest for next door university education in our region.
These and other facts should work in favour of the Univ.By the way, Busoga
region which has fibre optics,good tarmack roads, electricity,good schools is
the poorest region in Uganda, at least by the last statistics from the Bureau
of Statistics.Food for thought.
Over to you.
DMO
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