President Yoweri Museveni has insisted that Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) in Kiryandongo District is Bunyoro’s university.
Speaking to the leaders of Greater Kibaale including Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro districts during his campaign trail in Bunyoro region yesterday (Friday), Mr Museveni said the institute will be turned into a public university in Bunyoro with constituent colleges in other districts in the region.
“On the issue of a public university for Bunyoro, we have started with Kigumba Petroleum Institute as the University of Bunyoro. We have agreed in principle that we shall start a public university per zone and that is not a big problem. The University of Bunyoro can have branches in every district,” Mr Museveni said.
The people of Bunyoro are divided over the location of the university.
Some want it to be located in Hoima reasoning that it is a central district that can be easily accessed by people from other parts of the region including Kibaale, Kagadi. Kakumiro, Buliisa, Masindi and Kiryandongo.
Those on the proposition also argue that Hoima is a regional capital city being the seat of the kingdom adding that a public university for Bunyoro being located in Kiryandongo will mainly serve more people of northern Uganda that those in Bunyoro since the district is at the extreme end of northern Uganda bordered by Nwoya district in the north.
Others argue that the university should be fragmented with faculties in different districts citing striking a balance in the region.
Sometime back, the Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, donated a piece of land in Hoima where a public university can be constructed.
In November 2020, the Member of Parliament for Bugahya County in Hoima district, Mr Pius Rujumba Wakabi, said the misunderstanding among the people of Bunyoro over the location of a public university for Bunyoro is failing efforts to advocate for it.
