The much-awaited Muni University in Arua will open for courses next academic year.
According to Fr Dr Epiphany Odukuber, the University Secretary, this ending year and the beginning academic year have been devoted to the construction of some basic buildings and infrastructure for the new university in West Nile.
Odubuker said work on the structures is going on well and it is hoped that they will be operational when the university opens its academic doors next academic year. Already a number of buildings, some storied, have already been set up at the main campus on the outskirts of Arua town, next to Muni National Teachers’ College.
The University Secretary said preparations are also underway for the five techno-science degree courses that will kick off academics at the university. The courses will be skills-based to address gaps in vocational and science education, community health and information and telecommunications.
The degree courses include Science in Information and Communication Technology, Information Systems, Vocational and Technical Education, Bachelor of Science with Education and Bachelor of Nursing Sciences.
Muni University will also offer mandatory cross-cutting courses done concurrently with the degree courses. These are peace and ethics, communication and study skills, ICT, and entrepreneurship and business management.
Fr Dr Odubuker said there is great excitement about the university, which has been a demand of the people of West Nile for years.
Muni University's entry brings to seven the number of public universities in Uganda. The six are Makerere, Makerere University Business School, Mbarara, Kyambogo, Gulu and Busitema.
For West Nile as a region, Muni University becomes the latest entrant after private universities like Uganda Martyrs University, Uganda Christian University, Kampala International University and Islamic University in Uganda.
But unlike these private universities which offer mainly humanities courses, Muni's aim is to offer courses practical to the development needs of the underdeveloped region.
The university's main campus is in Arua with constituent colleges to be built in the eight districts comprising West Nile depending on availability of land by the districts. The eight districts are Arua, Nebbi, Zombo, Maracha, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo and Adjumani.
Already Zombo district has offered land for a constituent college for agricultural studies. Nebbi has offered two spots – Uganda College of Commerce Pakwach for business studies and Panyimur for Oil and Mineral Studies.
