City Of Oil Gives Birth To New University, Bunyoro Kitara Royal University

Okello Herbert

The oil city is bustling, in the depths of Hoima municipality, along Rukurato road Bunyoro Kitara Royal University sits, overlooking Karuzika; the Kings Palace, the” University ” opened its doors to the public on 15th September 2014. It opened with 11 courses.

“The University hopes to expand in the future with the acquisition of 50 acres in Kyakapeya, along Masindi -Hoima road. It’s hoped Kigumba petroleum college and Nyabyeya Forestry, both established institutions would form part of Bunyoro Kitara Royal University. It’s noted, that Bunyoro has had no university, various demands have been made ,promises made and with similar ease broken. The Kingdom education office led by Businge Harriet Mugenyi has done a commendable job” notes the university PRO Mr Allan Bamuha.

We later met the University Secretary Adoye Premo, who delved into the legal dynamics affecting the University  he said BUKIRU (as Bunyoro Kitara Royal University is fondly called ) isn’t an independent institution pending approval and accreditation from Uganda National Council of Higher Education, UNHC he added that they had found a legal cover under Gulu university.”In essence this means Bukiru isn’t legally existent but it’s that proverbial egg incubating beneath Gulu university while we wait for that opportunity to gain independence. Thus these students are, legally speaking; students of Gulu University! ” he added.

When we visited this institution, we shared with some students who intimidated that they part with 700,000ugshs for a bachelor’s degree per semester and it’s 500,000 for a diploma. Mbabazi Fatuma, a BBA day student stated that as the pioneers that they are , they wield no ill feelings because the cheap education rejuvenated their hopes of attaining university education. Tusiime Aisha ,a Development studies student was of the opinion that the computers were insufficient and she had similar resent for the library which she described as “ill-equipped .”

Kizza Marvin, was hopeful, he expressed hope towards a brighter future for the institution, which is headed by the Omukama Iguru Solomon Gafabusa, the king of Bunyoro, the vice-chancellor is a certain Fr. Atugonza Bonny. The” university ” boasts of about 23 lecture rooms, and they often get visiting lecturers including Buyaga West MP Barnabas Tinkasimire who apparently offers free business and administrative law lectures. The mission of the university reads

“to be the
centre of excellence in training, creativity,
innovation and research in order to produce
holistic graduates who meet and provide
solutions to the needs of their society and
beyond.”