Parliamentary Intervenes On Education In Gulu University

Following the directive give by the Speaker of parliament Rt Hon Jacob Oulanya, the parliamentary committee on education led by Hon Twesigye John Ntamuhira are in Gulu university to investigate the circumstances under which the university has not been granted the land that they had requested for expansion.

This was preceded by a motion moved on the floor of parliament by Hon Martin Ojara Mapenduzi urging government to degazette part of the Central Forest Reserve at Laroo-Pece division, Gulu city for use by Gulu University. Hon Mapenduzi moved this motion under rule 56 of the rules of procedure of parliament. He noted that in December 2012, in fulfilment of its memorandum of understanding with the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Gulu university procured 500acres of land at pajengo village, Nwoya district for the purposes of relocating the 70acres of forest land to be degazetted.

The Gulu central forest reserve sits on 243acres of land of which Gulu university seeks to occupy 70acres out of this.

However, the state minister for Environment Hon Beatrice Anywar opposed the motion saying that the land in question had a forest cover which the university encroached. “We are not blocking the university from expanding but we are following the law and looking at facts” she said while in parliament. Hon Beatrice then gave alternative that the university can expand through other constituent colleges other than touching the land gazette for forests.

In his submission, Hon Mathias Mpugga the Leader of Opposition called out the minister for debating matters pertaining a government university without getting any consensus with the institution. “the ministry has let the government down. This motion is calling for house support yet the minister is rejecting the idea. I believe the education committee would solve this since the university has already put-up buildings funded by government,” the LOP said.

The vice chancellor Gulu university prof. George Openjuru and University secretary Mr. David Obol Otori welcomed the committee to the university as the investigations and inspections commenced.

According to the PRO Mr. Ojok James Onono, this a great stride towards achieving the goal of the university to attain ownership of the land and enable expansion of its structures. With the increase in enrollment and the need for more space in research and innovation, Gulu university needs the approval of parliament on this.

By Daniel Olara