Ntungamo leaders demand for a public university

Authorities in Ntungamo have raised the roof in their clamour for a public university to be set up in their district.

Woman MP Joselin Kamateneti told the Nile Post that the district, the birthplace of First Lady Janet Museveni, warrants serious consideration from the government for the establishment of a public university.

“We've been pushing the district council to establish a piece of land so that the government can consider giving us a university because imagine the first district, home of the First Lady and it has no university,” Kamateneti said.

She said it was necessary to establish a university in order to afford the Ntungamo community the initial opportunity to reap its benefits.

This is particularly crucial as the region already boasts secondary schools that can serve as a feeder system for the university, in addition to existing tertiary institutions and a nursing school.

“Setting up a university in Ntungamo can transform our district because currently its either Kabale, Mbarara or Bushenyi-Ishaka if a parent considers taking their children to the nearest university, we already have a nursing school that will make it easy for our children to upgrade if need be,” Kamateneti said.

"From a geographical standpoint, Ntungamo is strategically positioned with the border between Uganda and Rwanda at Mirama. With proper facilitation, the university has the potential to advance the education not only of the people in Ntungamo but also of their broader social network.”

Samuel Mucunguzi, the district chairman, expressed intention to convene a council meeting to deliberate on the feasibility of allocating a piece of land for the establishment of a university in Ntungamo.

“We will discuss as and when we can have the piece of land to have the university established but as a district we have enough land it will only be government to confirm giving us the university,” Mucunguzi said

He said a university would be a great opportunity for Ntungamo not only in terms of postsecondary education but also economic boom.