Soroti University (SUN), is a public multi-campus university in Uganda. It is one of the nine public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country.[3]
Location
Soroti University has its main campus in Arapai, Arapai sub-county, Soroti District, approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi), by road, northeast of the central business district of the city of Soroti, on the Soroti–Amuria Road.[4] This is approximately 296 kilometres (184 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.[5] The campus sits on 200 acres (81 ha) of land, near the campus of Teso College, a boys-only, boarding middle (S1-S4) and high school (S5-S6).[6] The coordinates of the campus of Soroti University are 1°45'56.0"N, 33°3'44.0"E (Latitude:1.765543; Longitude:33.628900).[7]
History
The government of Uganda, following lobbying by stakeholders from the Teso sub-region, decided in 2012 to establish a public university in Soroti District.[8] A five-person task-force, headed by founding vice chancellorRobert Ikoja, was named by the Uganda minister of education in September 2012 to prepare for the opening of the university.[9] Soroti University was expected to open in August 2013. In that month, however, the Daily Monitor, a Ugandan daily newspaper, revealed that members charged with the establishment of the public Soroti University had also been establishing Teso University, a private institution.[10]
Construction of the university's main building began in June 2014 with completion expected 24 months later.[11] In June 2015, the government of Uganda, officially created Soroti University as a public institution, when the minister of Education, Science and Technology and Sports, Jessica Alupo, introduced a Statutory Instrument followed by a resolution of Parliament to the same effect.[1]
As of February 2018, the pioneer class of students were expected to begin classes in August 2018.[12] After delays, the university admitted the first cohort of students on 17 August 2019.[13][14]
Schools
As of January 2018, the university maintained the following schools and institutions:[15]