Muni University Expansion is Inevitable, Says VC

ARUA. Assoc. Prof. Simon Anguma Katrini, the Muni University Vice Chancellor, has appealed to the government of Uganda to support the University’s plan for expansion, saying the need is now inevitable.

Speaking during a recent function at the University, Katrini pointed out the ever-increasing number of students and faculty members, which is putting a lot of pressure on the existing resources at the campus.

“The expansion of Muni University is now inevitable, with its projects increasing every year. Furthermore, we are working tirelessly as Council, as Senate, as Management, as the staff of Muni University to increase the enrollment to at least 5,000 students in the next four years,” Katrini said.

He added: “This will come with the establishment of new faculties, increased number of academic programs, and increased number of academic staffs. Now, we don’t have room for them to sit; in one room like this, they are sitting four to five. We are talking about increasing faculties, increasing academic programs, where shall these people who are coming to teach sit? So, expansion is inevitable.”

Katrini urged President Museveni to consider the University’s plan for expansion to ease the growing pressure on the institution to deliver better services.

However, when contacted about the concern, Joel Aita, the Muni University Council Chairperson, said the government institution is now at the expansion stage.

“For the first 10 years, it was building the foundation. Until 2022, Muni University had approximately 400 students on campus. Now, we have 2000 students from August on campus. And our target is to reach 15,000 by 2030. This calls for expansion of infrastructure, and this needs more land,” Aita said.

He observed that the University management is developing proposals, and once the proposals reach the Council, they will be reviewed for action.

Meanwhile, Denis Lee Oguzu, the Maracha County Member of Parliament (MP), said the need for expanding the University is purely a sign of growth, which benefits the locals in the West Nile subregion.

“That is a sign of growth that brings benefits to the people in one way or the other, and it cannot be resisted,” Oguzu said.

He instead appealed to the Vice Chancellor to share his vision about the need to expand the University with the Members of Parliament in the region for them to understand his programing better.

Muni University is the sixth Public University established in Uganda under Statutory Instrument Number 31 of 2013. It became operational on November 4, 2014, when the first cohort of 87 students was received under the Faculty of Technoscience.

The number of students at Muni University has gradually grown over the years, reaching a total of 1,396.