KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTRE IN WEST NILE STARTS OPERATIONS, WITH CALL FOR MORE STUDENTS TO ENROLL

A section of students after the first session of orientation at the Campus in Paidha town council, Zombo District on January 6, 2025. Photo by Mike Rwothomio 

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

Hundreds of students who have joined Kyambogo University learning Center Paidha, Zombo district, underwent extensive orientation, giving stakeholders and students high hope.

The orientation serves as  the fitting coda, for many who had doubts about the coming up of the Public  University, that is the first of its kind in Greater Nebbi’s three districts of Zombo, Nebbi and Pakwach.

The center is situated at the now defunct Paidha Primary Teachers at Dwonga ward, Paidha town council that sits on the expansive 80.9 hectares of land.

Under the national teacher policy 2019, government provided framework to guide the professionalization of the teaching profession, to streamline the interventions aimed at standardizing teacher related issues of all education levels.

The minimum qualification for all teachers in Uganda regardless of the level of education they teach, shall be Bachelor’s Degree in Education or a Bachelor’s Degree with post_ graduate qualification in education.

On  25 March 2024, Zombo District local government and National council for higher education,  handed over the spacious Paidha Primary Teachers College to Kyambogo University,  in a ceremony that gathered hundreds of political, religious, cultural and local community.

In an interview with Journalists at the Campus on January 6, 2025, Dr. Joseph Rwothomio, a lecturer and the acting head of department in education planning and management at Kyambogo university, who is the focal point person for Paidha learning Center, rallies parents and stakeholders to send more students to the learning center, established to bring services nearer to locals in the region.

Rwothomio expressed his gratitude, having walked through the murky waters of processes to ensure the University’s establishment in the region, calling upon community not to take the opportunity lightly.

“We have walked a very long journey, what we have been struggling for has now come to pass. We have decided to start, right now we are putting certain things in place, I want to welcome you to Paidha learning center,” Rwothomio told students during orientation.

By 10:00 am on Monday January 6, 2025,  60 out of the about 150 registered students had reported at the campus, and the administration is expressing high hope that, in two weeks’ time, all students would report for lectures.

He also hinted about their planned extensive mobilization of”A” Level Students, for full time program in the August intake.

The Manager of the learning center John Manano stated that, “we have already started, we should stop complaining that we are left behind”

Last year, Zombo district leadership passed a unanimous  resolution, giving lee way to the ministry of Education and sports to  hand over the now defunct Paidha primary teachers college to Kyambogo University, after it was phased out as in line with the national teacher policy 2019.

Apparently the Branch for Paidha is serving grade III Teachers upgrading in Diploma in Primary school education, Bachelors in Education for Diploma holders.

Other programs the university plans to establish in the years to come are; Bachelor of Arts with Education, Bachelor of Science with Education, Bachelor of Social Sciences and Bachelor of Business Studies and other additional programs like special needs amongst others.

Margaret Aluka, the Registrar for the learning center, cautioned community against insecurity and vandalism, adding that, “I want to appeal for cooperation with the community members most especially on the security, because this facility is a blessing for our region.”

She also sounded her appeal to the district security team, calling for their assistance in case of emergency.

The District Education Officer of Zombo Nickolas Odeba recently expressed hope , assuring of more enrollment and  potentials the district has.

Written by admin