Hon. Dr. Oyella Betty Bigombe who served as the Minister of State for Northern Uganda and Minister of State for Water Resources including other high diplomatic careers at the World Bank on January 29th,2024 was honored by Makerere University with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law to appreciate her for contribution to the peace in Northern Uganda and her stand on human rights.
This is the rightful heart wish of the Diplomat who said the over thirteen awards in her custody, majorly international recognitions are not heavier than what home provides.
In an interview with the Elephant recently, Dr. Bigombe said that she hopes one day institutions like Gulu University would remember her contribution too.
Prof.Jack Nyeko Penmogi, the founding Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University acknowledged her concern to the Elephant.
“Betty Bigombe should know it has started on the right track for her because Makerere is the mother of all Universities in Uganda and the fact that they have started means, would come down to other Universities”. Penmogi noted.
Prof. Openjuru, George Ladaah, the Gulu University Current Vice-Chancellor who succeeded Prof. Nyeko Penmogi as the second Vice-Chancellor in the history of the university said the University has a holistic approach to recognizing people with immense contributions to the development of the region.
“We shall name halls and buildings in the name of outstanding people in this area, like currently we are planning to name Jacob Oulanya the former speaker of Parliament of Uganda in the Faculty of Law and Betty Bigombe in the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies including recognition of people like Alphonse Owiny Dollo, the current Chief Justice, and other national outstanding leaders”. Prof.Openjuru submitted.
Prof. Openjuru added that the public also needs to document and petition the University for their demands because at times the University would decide to give honorary degrees based on strong background profiling and a petition from the public as the University might get taken away by the normal university academic process and needs the public to awaken them on individuals that need such honours.
Okwonga Alfred, the Gulu City mayor also promised that the council he heads would get and name a suitable road after Dr.Bigombe.
Greatly known as ‘Atuku’ at the grassroots of the Acoli-sub region, she was one of the first officials of government to make contact with the Lord Resistance Army Commander Josep Kony by the 1990s.
Her involvement with Joseph Kony shaped various negotiations with the Lord Resistance Army that led to the Juba peace talks of 2006-2007.
Despite the failure of the negotiations, the courage of Betty Bigombe to follow the LRA in the bush was sung in songs in Acoli and very much known to the grassroots people in the region.
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