KAMPALA, Uganda — Members of Parliament on the Committee of Education and Sports have pledged to push for the establishment of Karamoja Peace and Technology University despite setbacks flagged by the National Council for Higher Education.
The committee learned from NCHE Executive Director Prof. Mary Okwakol during a meeting Thursday at Parliament that the project has stalled due to failure to meet accreditation guidelines required under the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act.
“The problem is they are not listening to us. If they had listened to us, they would by now have a provisional license, but we have procedures to follow,” Okwakol said. “I am interested, but we have to do the right thing. I am in touch with the vice president. She is aware of all this. We have also sent briefs to the president.”
KAPATU, a Catholic Church-founded program, is seeking to transition into a public university, an arrangement NCHE says is not permissible for privately initiated institutions.
Okwakol added that the proposed governance structures fall short of the legal requirements set by the council, further constraining the accreditation process.
However, some MPs expressed support for the institution, citing its potential to expand access to higher education and contribute to peace and socioeconomic transformation in the region.
Abim District Woman MP Hon. Janet Okori-Moe questioned NCHE’s reluctance to license the university, noting that the project enjoys high-level political backing.
“How can you say that KAPATU does not exist when it has been blessed by the fountain of honor?” Okori-Moe asked.
Committee Chairperson Hon. James Kubeketerya observed that the proposal for a Karamoja-based university is timely and called on stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues.
“The spirit is there, and no one is blocking it — it is only to ensure that the formalities are done,” Kubeketerya said. “We cannot go to the point of no return. We are moving forward, only that there is a lot of controversy.”
He tasked Okori-Moe and IK County MP Hon. Hillary Lokwang to engage regional leaders and KAPATU promoters to harmonize positions and facilitate a smooth transition of the project into a fully-fledged university.
Kubeketerya further directed that concerns surrounding KAPATU be prioritized in the committee’s forthcoming engagement with the education ministry as Parliament concludes scrutiny of Ministerial Policy Statements for the 2026/2027 financial year.
He also urged the committee to present NCHE’s request for a review of the legal framework governing higher education, including the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act 2025 and the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, where overlaps and contradictions have been cited as affecting effective regulation.
The committee is scheduled to meet officials from the education ministry on Friday as part of the ongoing budget scrutiny process.
