Soroti University not opening this academic year-Muyingo

PIC: Minister, Muyingo (left) lead on a tour at Soroti university by the University Vice chancellor. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

EDUCATION

SOROTI - Soroti University is not opening this academic year as expected, minister of state for higher education, Chrysostom Muyingo has said.

The University has a shortage of human resource, teaching materials and gap in infrastructure to enable the university open.

Muyingo was on Tuesday afternoon visiting the university together with the executive director of National council of Higher education, Prof. Asibo Opuda to ascertain the state of the university to operate.

Besides that, the university has a shortage of over five billion shillings a matter that has shocked the minister who had gone to Soroti to make pronouncement on the commencement of Soroti University.

"The buildings are beautiful but they were not designed for the programmes the management of council has decided to start with," Muyingo said.

His remarks follow an explanation from Prof. Asibo who clearly stated that the university lacked medical school, Atomy lecturers and there were no technicians among other things.

"The laboratories the university is talking of was meant for teaching chemistry, biology and Physics. We should put things right before we start," Prof. Asibo explained.

He also dismissed reports that he is responsible for delaying to open the university as baseless being peddled by uninformed people.

Prof. Robert Ikoja, the University vice chancellor Soroti University said that they can open once they get sh5.3 billion for buying materials lacking. In the last budget the university was apportioned 4.6b

Dr. Safina Museene the commissioner Business, technical, vocational education and training explained to the minister that the university was not ready because it lacked many things to enable it start training nurses.

"What is here is not even 50% of what is required to train a nurse, so minister, the university management has to put all things in order other than hurrying," Dr. Museene said.

Prof. Asibo said that once the university fulfills all the requirements, then it will be flagged off to start admitting students.