Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah, the Gulu University Vice-Chancellor has appealed to Gulu City leadership to consider ensuring that there is proper lighting and a good road network around the university to support the efforts in improving the infrastructural looks of the university as well as supporting the security of students at night.
The Vice-chancellor gave the example of Paul Opok Road which connects the Faculty of Medicine to the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment currently in a poor state with vandalized street lights by the street gangs.
He made this remark on Friday,7th June 2024 during the technical handover of the Construction site for the Gulu University Senate Building to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) commercial wing.
Pro. Openjuru added that Paul Opok Road is strategic to the main Senate building entrance hence he expects political support on the request he directed straight to Otim Geoffrey, the mayor of Pece-Laroo division where the university sits.
The Vice-chancellor used the occasion also to sensitize the public about the work of the senate in an academic setting where he revealed that the Senate has a big task of keeping student records, developing and reviewing curriculum in the university as well and managing students’ applications up to graduation that requires a good facility and the building in question is the absolute answer.
Otim Geoffrey the Mayor of Pece-Laroo Division where the University said he is happy that Gulu University is now concentrating on expanding within the city since in many cases he saw it as if the university was expanding outside Gulu City.
He assured the Vice-Chancellor of the commitment of the city to support the growth of the university and pledged that the Laroo-Pece division authority shall grade the road although revealed a long-term plan to tarmac Paul Opok Road.
Obol David Otori, the University Secretary said the Senate Building shall hold the Offices of the Academic Registrar, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affair, the Directorate of Quality Assurance, the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, Gulu University Community Engagement including Senate boardrooms among others.
He revealed that the building is worth over UGX 30 billion in the total sum of construction and supervision of the consultant.
The University Secretary also added that the building complies with all of Uganda’s building standards and provides ramps to aid access to persons with disabilities.
The local leadership in attendance including Adong Caroline, the Secretary of Finance of Gulu City who represented the City Mayor appealed to NEC officials to ensure the locals are employed as casual laborers as motivation to the people near the University.
Orswin Sabastian Oguti, deputy dean of RDCS in Uganda, and Deputy RDC Lamwo thanked the Government of Uganda through the visionary leadership of President Yoweri Museveni for standing with Gulu University. He added that the RDCS in the region shall need schedules from the contractors for constant monitoring of the project.
Mrs. Mary Theresa Obbo, the chairperson council in her message read by Rwot Santos Apire Richard, the Deputy Chairperson Council appealed to NEC to maintain high standards as they have always done so that the infrastructural environment of the university achieves the height it deserves as an excellence Academic Centre.
The Construction of the Senate Building is expected to be finished in the next three years.
NEC was represented by Barebente Pascal and his team and the supervising consultant for the project, FENCON was represented by Rev.Fataki Gabriel.
The function was attended by Acholi-subregion Resident District Commissioners and District Chairpersons among other dignitaries.
Ends
