The prolonged failure to implement these resolutions and directives has caused frustration among university officials and several government ministers.
By Willy Chowoo
GULU – What should have been a celebratory moment for the 1,431 students graduating from Gulu University on Friday turned into a pointed reminder of the government’s long trail of unfulfilled promises to the institution and the wider Acholi sub-region. Speaker after speaker, from the vice chancellor to the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, and the prime minister, found themselves addressing delayed presidential directives, stalled public projects, and lingering frustrations that overshadowed the joyous academic milestone.
The 21st graduation ceremony, attended by the prime minister of Uganda, Robina Nabajja, as the guest of honour, who represented the president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, provided a rare public platform for local leaders to openly question why major government commitments to the university remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo. From the long-promised specialized hospital to the degazettement of forest land for university expansion and the planned AFCON training stadium, the event became a catalogue of pledges still waiting for action.
On November 2nd, 2023, the Government of Uganda, through Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua and Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang, gave Gulu University’s management a 21-day deadline to complete key tasks required for the long-delayed degazettement process, which has remained unresolved despite a 2020 presidential directive.
This was again backed by the Gulu City Special Council Meeting on November 15th, 2023, which unanimously agreed that the whole of Gulu Central Forest Reserve be degazetted to facilitate the expansion and development of Gulu University without any hindrance.
The prolonged failure to implement these resolutions and directives has caused frustration among university officials and several government ministers.
Vice Chancellor Opens Fire on Delayed Projects
Gulu University Vice Chancellor Prof. George Openjuru Ladaa did not shy away from expressing frustration. He reminded the President of his public commitment to support the construction of the specialised hospital at Gulu University, but no work has started yet.
Prof Openjuru said the issue of Gulu Heart Institute is a project now stuck in a silent tug-of-war with Lira University
“When the President came here, we put the question to him, and he reiterated that it will be developed. He said, Once committed, always committed,” Prof. Openjuru recounted. “The Heart Institute… we are struggling over it with Lira. The debate is still going on that it should go to Lira and not come here.”
The Vice appealed to the Prime Minister and to the Chancellor to intervene and ensure that the facility, first promised years ago, is finally delivered.
Prof. Openjuru also spoke about the anticipated AFCON 2027 training stadium, which is supposed to be constructed on the Gulu University sports grounds. “We are waiting for that,” he said, urging graduates and the community to return in 2027 to witness Africa Cup of Nations teams training in Gulu—if the project finally materialises.
VOICE-1: Prof Openjuru sheds more light on the pending pledges by government
Norbert Mao: “No legal impediment, so why the delay?”
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, delivered one of the ceremony’s boldest speeches, directly challenging government agencies for dragging their feet.
Speaking about the proposed degazettement of forest land needed for Gulu University’s expansion, Mao wondered why a clear presidential directive has not been executed.
“I don’t know why it is taking so long,” he said. “The President has given directives. The Prime Minister has given directives. As Minister of Justice, I can confirm there is no legal impediment.”
In characteristic rhetorical flair, Mao suggested that should the delays continue, he would personally mobilise the community to hand over the forest land, especially now that he intends to represent the area in Parliament.
Turning to the specialised regional hospital promised to Gulu University, Mao again questioned the long wait.
“There is no way a directive of the President can be blatantly defied,” he said, adding that failure to act “makes the government look bad and look weak.”
VOICE-2: Minister Mao vows to mobilize the community to degazette the forest.
The proposed facility, he argued, would not only serve northern Uganda but also populations in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it a strategic investment aligned with Uganda’s Pan-African aspirations.
On the AFCON-related infrastructure, Mao painted a bigger picture of the anticipated benefits: a university training stadium, the upgrade of Pece Stadium and Gulu Airport, and roads linking Gulu to Lira through Aboke. These, he said, are the “fruits” of AFCON 2027 that government officials should be communicating to the public instead of focusing on petty issues.
“Even hospitals have mortuaries,” he joked. “But I’ve never seen a hospital focusing on the mortuary. They focus on patients.”
VOICE-3: Minister Mao explains the need to have a specialized teaching hospital at Gulu University
Prime Minister: “The process is underway”
Responding to the pressure, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja attempted to reassure leaders and the public that government was not dragging its feet intentionally.
“The issue of the forest is being handled,” she said. She explained that the cabinet had asked for additional information, which the Ministry of Water and Environment was compiling.
“Very soon… You will hear the good news,” she promised, insisting that due process must be followed.
VOICE-4: Prime Minister Nabajja responds to the issue of delayed degazzement of the forest land.
President Museveni Responds—Cautiously
On July 12, 2023, President Yoweri Museveni directed the Minister of Health to establish a modern, specialised 324-bed hospital at the university; however, no progress has been made to date.
When it came time for the president to address the delays, particularly the specialised hospital, he gave a characteristically measured response.
“If it is a government one, it will be done at the right time,” he said, adding that Uganda has many competing priorities. “I will check with them… but that one, if it’s a government [project], it will be done.”
Though brief, his remarks suggested that the project is still on the government’s agenda, albeit without a clear timeframe.
VOICE-5: President Museveni responds to the specialised teaching hospital.
This was his response to a question posed to him on October 23, 2025, as he concluded his campaign in the Acholi sub-region.
A Graduation Overshadowed by Demands for Action
While the day was meant to celebrate academic achievement, the ceremony became a powerful reminder that Gulu University’s growth continues to be held back by unfulfilled national commitments. Students graduated, but the institution’s long-term aspirations—better health facilities, expanded land, world-class sports infrastructure- remain in limbo.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Openjuru, emphasized the importance of planning for a rapidly expanding university, projecting an enrollment of 10,000 students in the coming years. He noted that the university has already seen a significant rise in student numbers, reaching 7,000 this year, up from 5,900 the previous year, an increase of 1,100 students.
VOICE-6: Prof. Openjuru explaining the need to expand the university.
For a university founded to champion post-conflict recovery in northern Uganda, the speeches underscored a familiar narrative: hope mixed with impatience, investment promised but not delivered, and a community determined to keep pushing.
As the thousands of graduates marched out in jubilation, the bigger question lingered in the air: Will next year’s graduation still be dominated by the same unfulfilled pledges?
