Victoria University to resume operations
Victoria University premises on Jinja Road. The university is set to resume operations after temporary closure. PHOTO BY Stephen Wandera.
Kampala
Victoria University, which lost affiliation early in 2013 and was later bought by business mogul Sudhir Ruparelia, has announced recommencement of business in the New Year.
The university temporarily halted operations after losing affiliation to the United Kingdom-based University of Buckingham following a storm over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009 (then under debate), which was passed by Parliament last month. “We have been accredited by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) and are already back to business,” said Dr Stephen Isabalija, the vice chancellor.
Dr Isabalija said the three-year-old institution will take off with 14 new academic programmes, which have also been approved by NCHE. “We promise to pursue new opportunities, new forms of knowledge, new types of students and new connections to our economy,” he said.
The University of Buckingham wanted Victoria to include a clause in its statute, stating that no person will be discriminated on basis of “sexual orientation” , which the latter could not comply with because homosexuality was outlawed in the country by the Penal Code.
The proprietor, Mr Ruparelia, said he believed in the university’s foundation which formed the decision to buy it but would in future seek out affiliation with a stronger institution.
Formerly located on Kira Road in Kamwokya, the new management shifted its premises to Engen Mansions on Jinja Road and Mr Ruparelia said a new campus would soon be constructed at the former Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters’ land in Kitante.
