Shs84 billion project kicks off at Kyambogo
Ms Jessica Alupo (right) with Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Elly Katunguuka (centre) and other officials at the commissioning of the HEST project at the institution last week. Photo by Rachel Ajwang
Kampala- The Education minister, Ms Jessica Alupo, has challenged the management of Kyambogo University to make a contribution to the development of the institution, however small, so that they can be part of history.
Ms Alupo, who was speaking during a ground breaking of a Shs84b Higher Education, Science and Technology (HEST) project in public universities at Kyambogo University last week, also said following the completion of the project in the next 18 months, Kyambogo will have a new face.
“HEST project aims to contribute to building Uganda’s human capital skills development capacity, particularly in education, science and technology, to respond to labour market demands and spur productivity nationally,” she said.
“As one of the eight beneficiaries of the project, taking almost 25 per cent of the total funds, the money should be put to good use so that you, management are a part of history”. The university was allocated USD25.41million (Shs83.853b) to cover the construction, rehabilitation and external works as well as training of 18 academic staff at PhD level (Shs2.086b) administrative staff at masters level or (Shs264million), student scholarships to 47 undergraduate students and six master students (Shs590 million).
Government, through the ministry of Education secured funding worth Shs343.266b from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support the project for five years.
“Hest’s objective is to improve equitable access, quality and relevance of skills training and research leading to job creation and self-employment. The project is aligned to the country’s National Development Plan 2010/2011–2014/2015 that aims at making Uganda an industrialised economy in 2025 through the provision of higher level skills,” Ms Alupo said.
Kyambogo University vice chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka, said the structures to be constructed, will be equipped with state of the art equipment for laboratories, workshops, lecture rooms and a business incubation centre.
So far, the project has already kicked off at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Muni University, Makerere University, Makerere University of Business Studies and Uganda Management Institute.
