Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has asked the government to consider the establishment of a public university in Bunyoro region.
The Omukama said that the government has established public universities in Ankole, Teso and Acholi sub regions, among others, leaving the greater Bunyoro region lagging behind.
The Kingdom had been prompted to start a University of its own; Bunyoro Kitara Royal University. The institution, held in trust by Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, opened its doors to the public on September 15 2014 with the introduction of 11 courses.
The masterminds of the project hoped that government would soon complement their efforts due to the lack of a public university in Bunyoro. However, government remains silent on the matter.
Omukama Iguru is optimistic that starting a public university in Bunyoro would equip youths with skills in petroleum engineering as Uganda awaits the much anticipated exploration of oil.
Omukama Gafabusa was speaking at his 23rd coronation anniversary traditionally known as "Empango" at his Karuziika palace in Hoima town on Sunday. Iguru Solomon Gafabusa Iguru mounted the throne of Bunyoro on June 11, 1994 after the restoration of Kingdoms taking a mantle initially held by his father Sir Tito Winyi IV who was deposed in 1967.
The Omukama also asked government to sign a memorandum of understanding on the restituted kingdom properties that include land so that the cultural institution can embark on its development programmes.
He said the kingdom is ready to lease out the ancestral land in Kyangwali for sugarcane growing in order to bring income and employment to the subjects. On the same note, Prime Minister Norman Lukumu said that the government to stop further influx of people into Bunyoro sub region which is now facing pressure over land.
Lukumu said that the government should create an environment which gives current settlers in Bunyoro grounds to sort their differences over land ownership so that it does not escalate into tribal clashes.
Buyaga West Member of Parliament Barnabas Tinkasimire warned that the people of the area may be forced for vote against the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party if government does not consider the region as important. He expressed dismay at what he says is a dismal representation of the region in cabinet.
In a speech presented by Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, President Yoweri Museveni asked cultural institutions to promote unity and cohesion and resolve conflicts pitting them against their subjects.
Museveni says that cultural institutions being a huge natural heritage need to ensure that conflicts of all kinds are resolved peacefully so as to effectively contribute to the social-economic development of Uganda. The president also implored the cultural institutions to preserve the languages and cultures by authoring books in local dialects that will help teach the young people the norms, values and the mother tongue vocabularies.
