Government Proposes Kiira University as New Name for Former Busoga University

By Abraham Lincolns | Kampala

The Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Dr John C. Muyingo has revealed that NCHE has rejected names incorporating “Busoga University” because of the risk of confusion with the former private institution that operated under the same name.

Muyingo was presenting a statement to Parliament on August 27, 2026, in response to a petition by former staff of Busoga University seeking the establishment of the institution as a public university, retention of the name “Busoga University,” tabling of the Statutory Instrument and payment of verified outstanding claims.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, I rise to present to this August House a statement on the Petition calling for establishment of Busoga University as a Public University following the Presidential Directive of 2018,” Muyingo said.

He said the University Taskforce Management Committee had conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders before proposing four alternative names — Busoga National University, Busoga Public University, Iganga University and Kiira University.

Government has proposed Kiira University as the new name for the planned public university in Busoga, dropping Busoga University over concerns about confusion and possible legal claims.

“Government has dropped the name “Busoga University” for the proposed public university in the Busoga Sub-region, instead proposing Kiira University following recommendations by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE)” Muyingo stated.

However, NCHE later narrowed the options to Iganga University and Kiira University. “At its 85th Council Meeting, NCHE observed that names incorporating the words ‘Busoga University’ were likely to be confused with the former private entity. Such similarity could expose the proposed public university to potential legal claims, reputational risks and stakeholder confusion, particularly in view of the controversial circumstances under which the former university was closed,” Muyingo said.

NCHE also rejected Iganga University on grounds that the name could undermine the regional character of the proposed institution.

“Although the name Iganga University satisfied the regulatory requirements, it was not recommended for the reason that the proposed institution is intended to serve a broader regional mandate, with campuses planned in the Districts of Iganga, Kamuli and Bugiri,” Muyingo said.

He added that naming the university after Iganga District could create the perception that its mandate and service area were confined to that district.

“Accordingly, the Council unanimously recommended Kiira University as the preferred name for the proposed public university,” he said.

The minister said the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, in a letter dated July 1, 2026, confirmed that the name “Kiira University” was available for reservation. He said the Ministry has since submitted the proposed name to President Yoweri Museveni for approval. On the establishment of the university, Muyingo told Parliament that government had made substantial progress towards fulfilling the 2018 presidential directive.

“The Ministry wishes to reassure the petitioners and this House that substantial progress has been registered towards establishing a public university in the Busoga Sub-region,” he said. The minister said government had settled verified liabilities, transferred assets to government, repaired and refurbished critical infrastructure and developed academic programmes for the proposed institution.

He added that the Ministry had secured a Certificate of Financial Implication and was preparing a Cabinet Memorandum, after which the Statutory Instrument establishing the university would be tabled before Parliament. On outstanding liabilities inherited from the former Busoga University, Muyingo said government had assumed claims amounting to Shs5.8 billion.

By the end of the last financial year, he said, Shs4.6 billion had been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of Shs1.2 billion. “Government assumed liabilities amounting to Shs5.8bn from the former Busoga University. By the close of the last Financial Year, Shs4.6bn had been cleared, leaving an outstanding balance of Shs1.2bn,” Muyingo said.

He explained that the outstanding amount mainly relates to claimants who have not come forward to receive payment and claims lacking the necessary supporting documentation. “The Office of the Auditor General advised that claims lacking adequate supporting documentation were not to be honoured,” he said.

Muyingo said such claims could not be processed until the required documentation had been submitted and the claims verified in accordance with government financial management procedures. The Ministry said it remains committed to completing the process of establishing the public university while complying with all legal, financial and administrative requirements.