By Peter Abaanabasazi
Hoima
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has expressed shock that Bunyoro Public University is yet to start.
According to Kadaga, in 2015, Parliament passed a resolution to operationalize the university and that it was supposed to open its doors to the public in 2017/2018 financial year at Kigumba.
She wondered why up-to- date the university is not operational.
Kadaga made the remarks during the 24th coronation anniversary of Bunyoro Kitara King, Dr Solomon Iguru Gafabusa on Monday.
She tasked the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija to release funds for the operationalization of the University.
Kadaga was responding to a complaint raised by Andrew Byakutaga, the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister who tasked government to explain why there has been delay to operationalize the university.
According to Byakutaga, all other regions of the country have public universities but it is only Bunyoro region that lacks a public university.
Leaders in Bunyoro have for long appealed to the government to establish a public university to ease the education of students in the region.
They also argue that establishment of the university would equip youths with skills in petroleum engineering as Uganda awaits the much anticipated exploration of oil.
In 2014, the Kingdom started Bunyoro Kitara Royal University, which is held in trust by Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. The masterminds of the project hoped that government would soon complement their efforts due to the lack of a public university in Bunyoro.
However, government remains silent on the matter.
The celebrations held annually on June 11 commemorate the day the reigning King Omukama Iguru ascended to the throne following the restoration of cultural institutions by the NRM government.
This year’s Empango cost was Shs500 million.
Byakutaga said the Money was contributed by corporate companies, State House, local governments and individuals.
Kadaga now wants the Ministry of finance to immediately release the money that will help establish the university.
