Govt Drops Busoga University Name, Proposes Kiira University

What the report says

The Ugandan government has proposed Kiira University as the name of the planned public university for the Busoga sub-region, moving away from using Busoga University. According to Nile Post, the change follows advice from the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), which warned that names containing “Busoga University” could be confused with the former private institution and could also create legal and reputational risks.

Acting Education and Sports Minister John C. Muyingo told Parliament on August 27, 2026, that a taskforce had initially considered four names: Busoga National University, Busoga Public University, Iganga University and Kiira University. NCHE later narrowed the list to Iganga University and Kiira University, but rejected Iganga because it could make the new institution appear limited to one district rather than the wider region it is meant to serve. The council then recommended Kiira University as the preferred option.

Muyingo said the Uganda Registration Services Bureau had already confirmed that Kiira University was available for reservation, and the ministry has forwarded the name to President Yoweri Museveni for approval. He also said government has made progress on the wider plan to establish the university, including transferring assets, refurbishing facilities and developing academic programmes.

The ministry told Parliament that it has taken over verified liabilities from the former Busoga University amounting to Shs5.8 billion, with Shs4.6 billion already paid and Shs1.2 billion still outstanding. Most of the remaining claims are said to involve missing documentation or claimants who have not yet come forward. More broadly, the proposal is part of a longer effort tied to a 2018 presidential directive to establish a public university in the region.