Gulu University

Legal, Institutional, and Policy Framework

Gulu University is an urban-rural-based academic institution of higher learning that is situated within conflict-prone Northern Uganda, and amidst war-devastated communities.

From the socio-political and economic perspectives, the University’s establishment was issue-based and demand-driven. It was intended to, inter alia, address the problem of imbalances of location of institutions of higher learning, and expand access to higher education for the rapidly increasing number of children passing through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the Uganda Post-Primary Education and Training (UPET) or the Universal Secondary Education programmes. From the onset, the main aim of the University has been to provide high-level appropriate education, research and to stimulate economic activities in the war-ravaged region of Northern Uganda. In the long run, this is expected to contribute towards the promotion and enhancement of holistic socio-economic and human development.

Gulu University was opened by the Government of Uganda in October 2002, following its statutory establishment as a corporate entity under Sections 22(1), 23(1), 24(1) and 25 of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, No.7 of 2001 (as amended by Act No. 3 of 2006). The University commenced its operation informally in October 2002. Its establishment and operation was formalised retrospectively and was legally brought into effect by the University and Other Tertiary Institutions (Establishment of Gulu University) Statutory Instrument No. 31 of 2003.

Corresponding with Section 25 of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, No.7 of 2001 and the schedule to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions (Establishment of Gulu University) Statutory Instrument No.31 of 2003, the university is located in Gulu District, which is one of those areas in the greater north where land has been identified with the intention to expand and/or to build up colleges and other institutions of higher learning.

Under Regulation 3 of the Establishment Instrument the statutory objectives of the University are:

* To equitably expand higher education;
* To increase the number of basic and applied science teachers;
* To increase professionals in agriculture and environmental sciences;
* To produce engineering and technology graduates and cadres appropriate for rural industrialization;
* To produce medical personnel and health service cadres for the delivery of medical and health services in rural settings;
* To develop appropriate human resources to match the management and administrative demands of the decentralized systems of government;
* To undertake applied research towards rural transformation; and
* To generally provide training in various training fields and disciplines as needs may arise.

Further, Regulation 4 stipulates that the functions of Gulu University are:

* To provide instruction to all those admitted to it and to make provision for the advancement, transmission and preservation of knowledge, and to stimulate intellectual life in Uganda;
* To organise and conduct courses with particular emphasis on medical, agriculture, environment and other science;
* To conduct examinations and award certificates, diplomas and degrees, and where necessary to revoke such awards;
* To undertake the development and sustenance of research and publication with particular emphasis in medical, agriculture, environment and other sciences;
* To disseminate knowledge and give opportunity of acquiring higher education to all persons, including persons with disabilities, wishing to do so regardless of race, political opinion, colour, creed or sex; and
* To provide accessible physical facilities to users of the University.

The University has now 5 faculties and 2 institutes. With these rapid institutional and infrastructural developments, the University is invaluably located to contribute to equitable development by stimulating innovations in education as well as technical and economic empowerment in the region. It will continue to achieve this by, among other things, promoting applied research, capacity building, leadership development, and institution building.

Currently, most of the students in the University are from Northern Uganda, a region where up to 1.6 million people have for so long been involuntarily crammed in Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) Camps characterised by abject poverty, over-crowding, weakened social fabric, traumatisation, very poor social service facilities, poor infrastructure and often gender-based violence and systematic aberrational infractions of human rights. Both within and without the camps, many people are still afflicted by constant, continuous apathy and pervasive fear of unpredictable insecurity, violence and the “unknown”. At the peak of the insurgency, apart from the phenomenon of internal displacement, another phenomenon of “Night Commuters” emerged; children were to leave their homes to seek safety at night in urban and semi-urban centres. Most of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) neither know their rights, nor understand the guiding principles and policies behind their continued displacement.

In spite of these peculiarities and complexities, and considering the crucial fact that the region was (for long) deprived of any institution of higher learning, Gulu University has progressed and expanded rapidly. To date, the University has continued annually to acquire qualitative acumen from the few qualified, dedicated and committed team of academic staff, leading to three successful graduation ceremonies. Preparation is underway to have the fourth graduation in January 2009.

University Vision, Mission and Motto

As a subsidiary legislation, the Establishment of Gulu University Statutory Instrument has, in most respects, re-echoed the objects and functions of a public university as contained under Section 24 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (supra).

However, Regulation 5(1) of the Gulu University Establishment Instrument, spells out the university’s vision and mission respectively in the Schedule thereto, namely:
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Photos of Campus PDF Print E-mail

Sorry, we still have to upload the photos required for this part of the website. The website is under construction and it is only in the near future that we hope tol populate this page with photos of the University Campus. Please check again in a month's time.

The University's Inception PDF Print E-mail

On Friday 13th July 2001 Prof. J.H. Pen-Mogi Nyeko got an appointment letter to chair the Task Force Management Committee (TFMC) charged with the responsibility of kick-starting Gulu University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (GUAES). The letter was dated 13th June but he received it on 13th July and reads in part as follows:

"I am pleased to inform you that you have been appointed Chairperson of Gulu University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Task Force Management Committee with effect from 16th June 2001. The Management Committee will have the resposibility of kick-starting the establishment of Gulu University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and iin that regard, you will take on the responsibilities shouldered by a Vice Chancellor as spelt out in Section 31 (1) of the 'Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Ac 2001'. You will serve in that capacity until appointment can be made in accordance with Sections 31 (3) and 31 (4) of the Act already referred to above, following the establishment of the university in keeping with the provisions of Section 22 of the Act. …"

The other members of the Task Force Management Committee comprised of Prof. Mary Okwakol, Vice Chairperson, carrying out the functions of a Deputy Vice Chancellor; Dr. Sandy Stephen Tickodri Togboa, member and University Secretary, and Mr. Nun Peter Egwel-Odyomo, member and Academic Registrar. All the three members were either seconded from Makerere University or Kyambogo except the chairperson who was fully on GUAES payroll. This essentially meant the chairperson had no fall back position unlike the other members who would be free to go back to theri mother institutions. Prof. Pen-Mogi Nyeko knew for sure that his appointment wold be only made in accordance with Section 31 (3) and (4) of the Act referred to based on satisfactory performance during the kick-starting period.

As if the members of the Committee planned it, they all wrote their letters of acceptance to the Minister on 16th July 2001 except Prof. Mary Okwakol who got her appointment much earleir and had replied. She accepted teh appointment but deffered her date of assuming duties to the end of December 2002. This was the first challenge. The membership of the Task Force was reduced to three.

Nevertheless, the remaining members were not deterred by the reduction in membership. They called the first meeting of the Task Force on Tuesday 17th July 2001, attended by three members. The meeting was held in an office located in the premises of the Ministry of Public Service at Wandegeya, Kampala. After congratulating each other upon the appointments, members identified the following matters as urgent—requiring immediate attention:

* Acquiring and furnishing an office within Kampala
* Arranging immediate trip to Gulu to ascertain the infrastructure on the ground for the commencement of the University
* Determining the possible start-off courses based onteh available infrastructure in place
* Production of letterhead for the University
* Acquisition of a postal box number in Gulu
* Opening bank accounts in Gulu and in Kampala, and
* The identification of administrative staff not exceeding 25 persons.

The University Secretary was asked to prepare a budget for additional sum of money to enable the University open in October 2001. He was to get postal box numbers in Gulu and Kampala, produce a temporary letterhead for the University. The Academic Registrar was charged with the responsibility of getting the curriculum referred to in the Policy Statement from the Ministry and/or from Makerere University, identify the core academic staff required for the start-off programmes and advertise for students.

Finally, the first meeting resolved that members of the Task Force should visit Gulu on Tuesday 24th or Friday 27th July to assess the situation on the ground. It was also resolved that every effort should be made to have the University take off latest by November.

The second meeting was held on Friday 20th July in the same venue. In the meeting, some documents containing budget details for GUAES and teh Curriculum obtained from the Commissioner for Higher Education were presented to members. It was agreed in this meeting that most ofs the assignments mentioned in the first meeting be handled after coming back from the trip to Gulu.

the visit to Gulu on Friday 26th was very comprehensive indeed. The Task Force Committee met leaders of the Gulu District Local Government and toured Gulu District Farm Institute. It also had the opportunity to visit surrounding secondary schools (such as Sir Samuel Baker School, St. Joseph's College Layibi) as well as Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Lacor and Gulu Independent Hospital. The Committee compiled a report and presented it to teh Ministry of Education. It was clear from the visit that the University could use some laboratory facilities in St. Joseph's College Layibi and Sir Samuel Baker School.

The third meeting wass held afer the Committee came back from Gulu. The Ministerial Policy Statement of the Ministry of Education and Sports of June 2001 was presented to the Committee and it was noted that the Policy Statement on page 26 states:

"The process leading to the preparation of the Master Plan for the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) in Northern Uganda is underway. Temporary premises for the UAES were identified at Gulu District Farm Institure. The Management Team for UAES has been appointed and a curriculum for the study courses at this University is now ready. …"

In the same Policy Statement, under Higher Education Planned Tasks for financial year 2001/2002 page 70, it was stated:

"… work with TFMC, which has been appointed to kick-start UAES Gulu to prepare for the first intake of the University in October 2001. …"

This point was emphasised further on page 143 as follows:

"… operationalise the University by October 2001, admit students for the first intake in June 2001, and provide basic facilities such as: three vehicles, furnishing administrative block, five computers with accessories and refurbushing existing structures.

"The Ministry seeks authority to spend shs. 557,228,000 on GUAES the 2001/2002 financial year under budget line ED26 (B) Annex 4 (page9). …"

In a nutshell, the first intake of students was to be done in June 2001, yet the TFMC members got their appointment letters on 13th July! The Committee agreed that in order to admit the first lot of students and have the University operational by October 2001, as per the Ministerial Policy Statement, there is urgent need to produce a detailed budget for staff salaries, students' welfare and the running cost for academic year 2001/2002.

By the end of August 2001, the Committee was ready with advertisements for students, academic and administrative staff. The Committee later presented its requrest for an additional shs. 781,000,000 to the Ministry of Education if the university was to start in October 2001. Technically, the Committee knew the difficulties of starting the university in such a short time with the limited funds. But the Chairperson of the Task Force was conversant witht eh type of questions the Honourable Minister of Education would face from members of Parliament regarding the implementation of the Policy Statement. The anticipated political reply from the Honourable Minister would be like "Mr. Speaker Sir, I have done my job by appointing members of the Task Force to kick-start the University." He would also proceed to 'wonder' why the Task Force has not started the University contrary to the Ministerial Policy Statement. In line with this, the Committee knew for sure that a political reply of this nature in Parliament would have rendered the Task Force useless. It was in anticipation of this sort of reply that the Committee had to present itself to the Ministry and to Parliament as being 'prepared' to open the university in October/November 2001.

This anticipation and teh action the Task Force took saved the committee. When the Committee of Parliament was discussing the budget for Gulu University, it became clear taht members of parliament were concerned why the University has not yet started. The Minister explained the need for further preparaton and that the Ministry was not ready to start the University in October 2001 as stated in the Policy Statement. With this error resolved, it was agreed that the Task Force should continue planning to open the University in September 2002.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 5th September 2001, advertisements for jobs and students appeared in the national newspapers. Because it was later resolved that the University starts in 2002, the Task Force Committee did nto admit students neither did it employ academic staff. It recruited a bursar, an accountant and three secretaries and other support staff by November 2001. That same day the Task Force Committee got a letter from the VIce Chancellor of Makerere University allocating an office space in Lincoln Flats, in Makerere University.

All the members of the Task Force Committee were satsified wth the progress of their work. By the end of December 2001, they had a work force of 31 persons with 8 staff in the Kampala coordinating office and 5 in Gulu head office. Four vehicles were purchased and all offices were furnished. The Internet service was installed in Kampala coordinating office. The Committee members set their goals for the new year 2002 to embark on national and international public relations to sell the university and consolidate plans fsor actual academic programmes in readiness for students' intake for September 2002. To-date the Chairman of the then Task Force, who is still the Vice Chancellor of the University thanks Dr. S.S. Tickodri and Mr. N.P. Egwel-Odyomo for their commitment and hard work.

Geographical Location PDF Print E-mail

Sorry, this site is still under construction. Please check again after a forthnight and this part will contain the geographical information about the University. Thanks for visiting, and our apology, please.

Staffing and Vacancy
Sorry, this site is still under construction. Whenever there is any vacancy in the University, the information will be made available on this page. As of now the website is under construction. More information will be made available here soon. Thanks for visiting, and our apolory, please.




Visitor Information

Let's get down to the page that explains tips to guide our visitors. If you have to come to Gulu University for the first time, this information may prove to be of benefit to you. For those who may have already come to our University several times, the information may serve only as a recollection or as a refreshing thought to their mainds. Well, let's see what you may learn.


Main Sights
This page will contain some information about the main sights you may need to reach while in Gulu University and its neighbouring areas. The information will be made available soon. As of now, the informtion is not yet built to the full.

Places to Eat (Refreshments) PDF Print E-mail

As a visitor in an area, you are rightly concerned about safe eating places. We will post some information for you to guide you on some safe eating places soon. As of now the site is still under construction. Please pay us a visit again.

Weather Info PDF Print E-mail
As a visitor, you may not be very familiar with the weather in Gulu or in Uganda at large. We will include here some information that may give you the desired details in the weeks to come. As of now, the website is still under construction. Please come again in a few months' time.

Parking Info PDF Print E-mail
For our dear guests who wish to pay us a visit on the main campus of the University, a guide to our parking information will be posted here soon. As of now the information is not yet available.

University Guest House PDF Print E-mail
Information abou the University Guest House will be posted here. As of now the information is still being composed. Please check in a month's time and you will probably get some information about our Guest House.



Housing/Accommodation

For one who is not fully familiar with Gulu town--the nearest town to Gulu University--this page may be the link required to give a glimpse on what to expect by way of housing or accommodation. Please read on.


Hostels / Halls of Residence PDF Print E-mail

Gulu University is a non-residential university. It doesn't have halls of residence and doesn't provide meals for students. Students who require hostel accommodation should seek advice from the office of the Dean of Students on availability of such hostel accommodation. Government sponsored students are given money remitted by the government for their accommodation, feeding and commuting to the campus. Privately sponsored students meet their own expenses. There are designated hostels which have been approved by the University. Procedures and requirements for staying in these hostels are available in the office of the Dean of Students located on the main campus.

Local Housing Options

Because Gulu University is a non-residential university, the vast majority of students who require hostel accommodation have to be accommodated in private hostels or in the general housing provided by private investors and developers.

Students who require hostel accommodation should seek advice from the office of the Dean of Students on availability of such hostel accommodation. Government sponsored students are given money remitted by the government for their accommodation, feeding and commuting to the campus. Privately sponsored students meet their own expenses.

The students rent private houses near the campus and in different locations within Gulu municipality. On average, renting one room is about Uganda shillings 50,000 per month (approx. US$ 30).

For refreshments and meals while on campus, there is a public café run by the University on the main campus at an affordable price to the university community.