Kadaga Rejects Muvawala's Criticism of Busoga University Renovations

First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has strongly refuted criticisms leveled against the ongoing government-funded renovations at Busoga University by Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Katukkiro of Busoga Kingdom and executive director of the National Planning Authority.

The public disagreement underscores existing concerns about the infrastructure of the institution, which was originally founded by the Busoga Diocese of the Church of Uganda in 1998. Its operational license was later revoked by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in 2017, leading to a government-led initiative to transform it into a public university.

Dr. Muvawala had expressed his dissatisfaction during the Busoga Prayer Week, suggesting that the kingdom would withhold its support for the official commissioning of the university. He argued that the current state of the renovated buildings, carried out by government contractors, did not befit a public university, drawing an unfavorable comparison to secondary school facilities. “As Busoga Kingdom, we are not going to accept the commissioning of Busoga University because of its visibility. These buildings look like those of a secondary school, yet this is a university,” Muvawala had stated.

Kadaga’s response, however, dismisses these objections. While the specifics of her counter-argument were not detailed in the initial report, her intervention signals a determination to proceed with the university’s transition despite the internal dissent. The situation highlights a potential clash between cultural leadership and governmental development agendas within the Busoga region.

This ongoing debate impacts the future trajectory of Busoga University as it aims to re-establish itself as a key public institution of higher learning. The resolution of these infrastructural and symbolic concerns will be crucial for its successful relaunch and its contribution to regional development.