Busoga University Reopening Soon, Government Says

What the report says

Government says Busoga University is nearing reopening after most of the legal, financial and academic obstacles that delayed its return to operation were addressed, according to Nile Post. The final remaining task, the government says, is to put in place a governing council that can provide formal leadership for the institution.

Minister of State for Education and Sports Peter Ogwang told Parliament on Wednesday that progress has been made on issues including settling liabilities, transferring the university’s assets to government and preparing academic programmes. He said the process is now at its “tail end,” and that a full reopening will be marked only after the remaining governance steps are completed.

The university, located at CMS Village in Iganga District with satellite facilities in Bugiri and Kamuli, has been under rehabilitation by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. Government had earlier committed Shs3.7 billion to restore the campus, but reopening was missed last August. The broader plan is to convert the institution into a public regional university serving Busoga and nearby areas.

Busoga University was founded by the Church of Uganda in 1999 and lost its licence in 2017 after the National Council for Higher Education raised concerns about unaccredited programmes, staffing and disputed graduations. Nile Post reported that the closure contributed to a long-running uncertainty over student records and qualifications, making the revival significant for higher education access in the region.