Located 380 kilometres north of Kampala, Gulu University is the beacon of hope for the northern region that has seen years of insurgency. The university is rapidly expanding, both in student number, physical infrastructure and programmes offered. Chris Ocowun writes
Background
Gulu University is located in Laroo division in Gulu municipality about 4km northeast of Gulu town. It is housed in the premises of the former Gulu District Farm Institute although more structures have been put up.
It has 742 hectares of land plus additional land to serve as a university farm under the yet-to-open Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
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Legal status
The University is a public higher institution established by Statutory Instrument No. 16 of 2003. It is poised to make a significant contribution and sustainable development in Uganda and serve as a launch pad for equitable development by stimulating innovations in education, technical and economic empowerment in the country.
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Accommodation
All students are non-residents. They rent private houses near the Campus and in different locations of Gulu Municipality. On average, renting one room is about sh50,000 per month.
Staff Residences:
Has a total number of 252 members of the staff, of which 145 are members of the teaching staff, 76 are support staff and 35 are members of the senior administrative staff.
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Recreational facilities
Include, table tennis, badminton, and soccer. Other recreation facilities are volleyball, basketball, darts, chest, handball and omweso.
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Affiliation
It is accredited to The University of Nepal although the University authorities are also in the final stage signing a memorandum of understanding with two other foreign universities.
Uganda.
Top Computer Facilities
The University is stocked with 95 computers in three computer laboratories at the campus. The newly acquired laboratory has a total of 40 computers, another smaller one has 20 computers and 35 other computers have been installed at the University faculty of medicine for the medical students.
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Tuition Fees
The University boasts of being cheap and affordable compared to other public and private institutions in Uganda. The tuition fees and other charges vary per course.
| Courses offered and fees per semester |
Bachelor programmes
Information Technology - sh650,000
Science (Education) - sh450,000
Business Administration - sh650,000
Development Studies - sh550,000
Arts (Education) - sh450,000
Quantitative Economics - sh750,000
Public Administration - sh550,000
Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - sh960,000
Science (Economics) -
sh700,000
Computer Science - sh650,000
Agriculture - sh700,000
Business Education - sh450,000
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Diploma Programmes
Secretarial Studies and Information Management - sh300,000
Development Studies - sh300,000
Computer Science - sh350,000
Certificate in Secretarial Information Management - sh250,000
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Masters programmes
Business Administration - sh800,000
Education (Admin. Management and Planning) - sh700,000
Public Admin and Management - sh800,000
Post Graduate Diploma in:
Financial Management - sh400,000
Project Planning and Management - sh400,000
Education - sh400,000
Conflict Management and Peace Studies - sh400,000
Entrepreneurship - sh400,000
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Other Fees
Registration fee - sh10.000
Late registration fee (surcharge) - sh6,000
Examination fee - sh80,000
UNSA fees - sh900
Identity card - sh4,000
Sports fee - sh4,000
University rules book - sh1,000
Capital development - sh30,100
Re-examination fee (per paper) - sh6,000
Medical examination fee - sh13,000
Library fee - sh10,000
Guild fee - sh20,000
Supervision fee - sh95,000
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Library facilities
It has one big Library connected to Internet with 715 volumes of textbooks in stock.
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Lecturer/student ratio –– 1:21
Private students constitute 60% of the student population.
Academic staff:
Seven Ph.D holders (including professors), 30 Masters and 13 Bachelor holders. In total, 60 permanent, 20 part-time lecturers and 10 visiting professors.
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Programmes
Faculty of Science Education opened on October 12, 2002 with 100 students. It now has eight departments.
Faculty of Business and Development Studies opened on October 12, 2002, with 127 students. It now also has eight departments.
Faculty of Medicine (based at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital), was opened on October 5, 2004 with 60 students. It has 13 departments, and well-equipped modern teaching labs for biomedical science. Top Strategic plan
Five-year Strategic Plan (2002/03 — 2006/07), to see expansion of both infrastructure, courses offered and lecturers and student population. They also plan to start a number of PhD, Masters and postgraduate diploma programmes.
October 2005: To open the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with the following initial departments:-
- Soil and Water Management
- Crop Science
- Horticulture
- Food Science & Technology
- Agro-Forestry & Rural Development
- Wildlife Management
- Tourism Management
- Animal Production
- Farm Planning and Management
2006/07: To open the Faculty of Technology with the departments of:
- Chemical and Processing Engineering
- Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering
- Centre for Technological Innovation and Development.
Top Councils/ administration
1. H.S. Opika Opoka — Chairman
2. Hellen Oyeru — Vice-Chairperson
3. Dr Z.M. Nyiira — Member
4. Dr Margaret Mungherera — Member
5. Prof Joseph Mukiibi — Member
6. Prof L. Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza — Member
7. Sr Mary Carla Ajio — Member
8. Nelson Wanambi — Member
9. Robert Odok Oceng — Member
10. Geofrey Alii — Member
11. Santo Odoch — Member
12. Prof J.P. Ociti — Member
13. Abel Mucunguzi — Member
14. Nicholas Okello Gregory — Member
15. Charles Komakech — Member
16. Jalon Kingson Laloyo — Member
17. Cessar Moses Odiya — Member
18. Safiina Biira — Member
Administration (Key figures)
Chancellor — Dr Martin Aliker
Vice-Chancellor — Dr Pen-Mogi Nyeko
Deputy VC — Prof Mary Okwakol
Academic Registrar — Peter Egwel-Odyomo
University Secretary — Okoth-Ogola
For further information, contact:
The Academic Registrar
Gulu University
P.O Box 166
Gulu - Uganda
Tel: +256 (0) 471 32921
argulu_university@yahoo.co.uk |
