By Phillips Ogile
Chairman of the University David Ongom (standing)addresses Journalists
Lira, April 24, 2008: Leaders of Lango Dioceses Last week declared the kick start of All Saint University Lango, which they say is going to be the first private University in Northern Uganda.
According to a statement that was read by the Chairman of the University Council Mr David Livingstone Ongom, All Saint University Lango is owned by Church of Uganda Lango Diocese, and shall open to all Students irrespective of creed, tribe or Nationality.
Ongom added that all the five districts in Lango sub region have fully embraced the establishment of the University and said the word Lango was added to this University to signify the acceptance of the University as the institution of higher learning in Lango Sub region.
He said the University shall operate from St Augustine’s Community Center in Lira Municipality at it initial stages, and later on is expected to sift to Boroboro Road on 3.979 hectares of Land at Central Division, Lira Municipality.
Ongom added that Lango Diocese of the Church of Uganda has given 26 hectares of Land located to the north of Boroboro Hill and 81 hectares of Land at Aminakite in Apac District for the future development of the University.
Dr Absolom Kenneth Oteng who was the former chairperson for the formation of the University after the changes of government said the idea of setting up the University started way back in 1963 but change of government in 1971 disrupted the plan. It was not until July 1996 that the Synod of Lango Diocese passed a resolution instructing the Bishop of Lango, Rt Rev Medicadeki Otim to Establish All Saint University.
The Bishop of Lango Diocese John Charles Odur Kami who is the Chancellor of this University said the University has provisional License issued by National Council of Higher Education. He maintained that the vision of the University is to be a center of excellence in the provision of pragmatic and quality higher education responsive to sustainable development needs of a global society.
The administration of the University is composed of people from other denominations as well: Bishop Odur Kami is the Chancellor, Prof Mathew Okai, a Catholic, is Vice Chancellor, Deputy Dr Absolom Kenneth Oteng deputy Vice Chancellor and George Washington Buwa, University secretary. The 22-member University Council comprise of both Catholic and Anglican Leaders.
He concluded by saying the University shall recruit 19 full time Staff with qualification at Master and Doctorial level. He said the council shall also recruit 20 non-teaching staff and more staff shall be recruited as the need arises.
“The University shall award Certificate, Diploma and Degree program at the Campus”, Kami said.
Lira District Chairman Franco Ojur who represent all district Chairpersons in Lango Sub Region said Lira as the host district as contributed a lot towards the establishment of the University. He sited the land and 10 million shilling. He also said Oyam district as also contributed 5 million Shillings.
Ojur promised to give more support to the University and called Upon Langi in Diaspora to lobby for the growth of this University.
Filed under: Lira Uganda
Thanks to the elders for the effort to bring higher education close to home,may God bless you all abundantly.
This is great. However, our university leaders should be foresighted and open to new ideas. There is a lot the university can do but it will all depend on the openness of the administration. God bless
This to me( about all saints) is a good step forward to provide higher education to a sub region whose education level is worrying. However I am appealing to the management that for the start lets leave politics out of this; since for us Langis our dividing factor is politics. And eventually everything we work for collapse. I am also saying recruiting staff with doctorate and masters is not a bad idear for quality assurance. But as a mater of fact resource should be taken into consideration. Universities such as Makerere are still using junior lecturers whoes level of education is 1st degree(higher class). Many students in Uganda in particuler Langi have finished education with good class and can steer the institution and it is from here that they seek further knowledge.
This is a very noble and justifiable cause! Can Management of All Saints University, consider developing a strong foundation of knowledge based on Award of Certificate/ Diploma programmes relevant to our people’s needs and moreso enable these students progress further to offer Degrees in the relevant fields yet at the same University or beyond? May I encourage our brothers and sisters who are in other Universities consider volunteering to kick start our very own University! Am more than ready colleagues!
thanks for the establishment of the university. i really don’t think it is for the northern people only but effort should be made to craete a good image of the university inorder to attract people from different regions and even international students. let’s embrace the university and offfer possible sacrifices to support the university. “long live the northern giant”.
thanks, daughter of REV simon achai
to the management of the university, it is high time you published courses offered at the university to create awareness of the university as we also communicate about the university verbally to the rest of the world.
По моему Вам нужно чаще отдыхать, очень уж Вы заработались.
iam impressed with the opening of the university
cause it will open our futer and that of our children so let all thanks be to the lord e men
Thank so much my dear team for dedicating you time and open this site and the university.
Over a period of time our student from Lango sub-region has suffered in the process of accesing the universitie in uganda. It now a golden oportunity for our students to study at home , let uterlised it and ensure that it proper and compete favourably with other universities in the world.
we can achieved this through recruiting quality accademic satffs and ensure that there is a standard set.
I would like to konw the academic programe for the university ie faculties avaliable and the academic period. otherwise am very grateful for this.
Glory to God for this very great achievement.The opening of ASUL is vividly the greatest thing that has happened in the Lango sub-region in the last 25 years.I am one person who feel greatly grieved to see that the majority of my kinsmen in Lira go to drink after work hours. In others many towns in Uganda,most civil servants/workers go to study after offfice hours or during weekend.With the University now available in Lira ,I am sure many people will spend time studying after work hours or weekends instead of going on a drinking spree.I encouarge the University authorities to design many tailor made courses to cater for the interest of part time students.