Dear Colleagues
As you are aware, there has been work ongoing regarding the planned public
university in West Nile. We as the Adhoc Committee set up by West Nile
Foundation have been in consultation with the official Task Force, and doing
whatever we can to support the process. We contributed ideas towards
the work on the different academic programme teams, and received updates on the
progress of the work and challenges being faced.
The long awaited and stakeholders' consultation workshop regarding the
university was 12-13/07/2010 in Arua. We were invited, and I represented WNF
among the 20+ quality group of participants drawn from the W. Nile DLGs, MoES,
Universities (MUK, KYU, GU), NTC Muni, Cabinet, NGOs, legal fraternity and
civil society. But Ben Anjiku and Asaph Adebua also attended in other
capacities. Very good discussions were held right from the basics, through
progress and challenges, to the way forward.
Clearly there is wide consensus on the importance of starting the university,
and therefore goodwill from the key stakeholders. The agreed approach all along
is to move in a deliberate and solid way, to avoid a false start - make a good
mark right from the start.
Progress to date is as follows:
1. The official Task Force has in addition been assigned roles as designate
Vice Chancellor (Dr. Christine Dranzoa), University Secretary (Fr. Dr. Epiphany
Picho Odubuker) and Academic Registrar (Mr. James Lam-Lagoro).
2. Land to host the university has been offered at the ICT Centre, NTC Muni and
Madi Okollo in Arua, and Bidi Bidi in Yumbe district. However the land needs to
be surveyed in order to be fully secured.
2. Some initial government funds (UGX 700M) were received late the last FY,
and have supported the initial procurements and preparation activities. This FY
the budget has been doubled, for greater impact on the ground.
3. Much of the work on developing the main academic programmes has been done by
the Task Force and volunteer academics, and some (ICT, Nursing Sciences, and
Science & Technical Education) are ready to get running. Other immediate target
areas are Entrepreneurship and Communication.
4. Individual consultations were held with district leaders and other main
stakeholders in the W. Nile districts and beyond, which culminated into
the stakeholders' workshop.
5. A private new building has been rented in Arua town to house the university
offices, and is already furnished and staffed by a Secretary. The other
officials are set to move to Arua pretty soon once the minimal processes are
concluded. Currently it is more pragmatic to stay in Kampala for ease of
chasing the issues around here. For this purpose MUK has offered space at
Lincoln Flats.
The stakeholders workshop used guidance from the MoES (starting from the
[Kajubi] Education White Paper 1992) and the progress made so far, as a basis
to discuss and agree on the following issues:
1. Fundamentals - Name, Vision, Mission, Goals, and the location(s),
approaches, values, etc; and
2. The best way forward in light of the current situation.
The critical issues agreed to be acted on immediately are:
1. Obtaining a title for the land at Muni after survey, and eventually for all
other land secured;
2. Expansion and improvement of the ICT building in Arua Municipality; and
3. After the above 2, submission of a formal application to the National
Council for Higher Education for licensing to start operaions.
It is envisaged that these processes (including approval by the NCHE) can be
concluded by late 2010, to enable formal opening in early 2011. Once the
initial programmes are started, an expansion programme will then be worked out
following the same deliberate approach.
Starting this week, a team is working on development of a masterplan for the
university. We were invited to participate, and I agreed to join the team as a
volunteer for the task. However more physical planning and architectural skills
are required to undertake the task expeditiously and thoroughly. Any of you out
there, please come forward to offer your services in this noble undertaking.
Meanwhile the Adhoc Committee will continue working with the Task Force to move
the process forward. We shall share with you more detailed information as and
when it becomes available.
Kind regards
Patrick Okuni
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