In bid to revive the ailing Banda based University, the Kyambogo university Acting Vice Chancellor, prof. Elly Katanguka has unveiled a grand infrastructure reconstruction plan of the condemned buildings wallowing in final stages of dilapidation adopted from former institutions in 2013. It’s to be noted that the University was previously a polytechnic college.
The VC announced the university would allocate construction sites to selected contractors on a time frame of 18 months in bid to beat the population surge that has hit the university. ‘Since 2003, the university hasn’t put up any tangible structures yet population continues to surge, suffocating the already small university space, halls of residence and classrooms. For the 15/16 academic year, the university admitted 13,000 students who all turned up.’ lamented the VC.
Commending the VC’s vision, prof. John Okedi, the Kyambogo University council chairman appealed to the government to up its support towards the government citing numerous challenges including but not limited to the fact that the university supervises all National Teachers Colleges, Primary Teachers Colleges in addition to institutions in the youthful South Sudan state.
Speaking on the first day of 12th graduation ceremony, were 6,660 students are graduating with certificates, diplomas, bachelors and masters degrees conferred by the chancellor prof. Pancras Ssebuwufu. The VC revealed that reconstruction would cost between the region of $13M( about 45.1bn shs) and the facilities will include, eight laboratories, a civil engineering workshop, lecture rooms and a library.
The funds are part of the $28m( about sh97.5b) African Development Bank loan obtained through the education ministry programme. Last year campusbee reported a story of the condition of leaking roofs in one of the lecture rooms. It’s on record that the dismal state of the university had compelled the university to conduct some of its lectures at Kyambogo college school. “The other funds will be directed towards improving renovation of halls of residence and provision of scholarshis,” added the VC.
