Gulu University hands over another Site to UPDF

Gulu University Management Team led by the University Deputy Council Chairperson, Santos Apire Richard and Vice-Chancellor Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah have on Friday ,7th June 2024 handed over the Construction site for Senate Building to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) commercial wing.

This is happening in a span of time, since the University recently handed over the site for construction of Gulu University Moroto Constituent College in Nadunget to the UPDF.

This handover took place from the site at Gulu University playground in between the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment and where the current construction of the Business and Development Centre is taking place.

Obol David Otori, the University Secretary said the Senate Building shall hold the Offices of the Academic Registrar, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affair, Directorate of Quality Assurance, Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, Gulu University Community Engagement including Senate boardrooms among others.

He revealed that the building is worth over UGX 30 billion in total sum of construction and supervision of the consultant.

The University Secretary also added that the building is in compliance with all the Uganda’s building standards and have provision for ramps to aid access of persons with disabilities.

Pro.Openjuru George Ladaah, the Gulu University Vice-Chancellor said the Senate has a big task to keep student records, developing and reviewing curriculum in the university as well as managing students’ application up to graduation that requires a good facility and the building in question is the absolute answer.

He also appealed to Gulu City leadership who were in attendance of the brief ceremony to consider ensuring that there is proper lighting and good road network including Paul Opok Road that would provide direct access to the Senate building which currently is in a poor state.

Otim Geoffrey the Mayor of Pece-Laroo Division where the University sits said he is happy that Gulu University is now concentrating in expanding within the city since in many cases he saw as if the university was expanding outside Gulu City.

He assured the Vice-Chancellor the commitment of the city to support the growth of the university and pledged that the Laroo-Pece division authority shall grade the road although revealed a long-term plan to tarmac Paul Opok Road.

The local leadership in attendance including Adong Caroline, the Secretary Finance of Gulu City who represented the City Mayor appealed to NEC officials to ensure the locals are employed as casual laborers as motivation to the people near the University.

Orswin Sabastian Oguti, deputy dean of RDCS in Uganda and Deputy RDC Lamwo thanked the Government of Uganda through the visionary leadership of President Yoweri Museveni for standing with Gulu University. He added that the RDCS in the region shall need schedules from the contractors for constant monitoring of the project.

He also used the opportunity to thank the management of Gulu University under the leadership of Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah who are working tirelessly to see that the university develops.

Mrs. Mary Theresa Obbo, the chairperson council in her message read by Rwot Santos Apire Richard, the Deputy Chairperson Council appealed to NEC to maintain high standard as they have always done so that the infrastructural environment of the university achieves the height it deserves as an excellence Academic Centre.

The Construction of the Senate Building is expected to be finished in the next three years.

NEC was represented by Barebente Pascal and his team and the supervising consultant for the project, FENCON was represented by Rev.Fataki Gabriel.

The function was attended by Acholi-subregion Resident District Commissioners and District Chairpersons among other dignitaries.