The National Council for Higher Education ( NCHE) has directed the halting of operations at Great Lakes Regional University in Kanungu district to pave way for investigations into the institution without any interference.
The closure follows contestation of the ownership of the Kanungu-based University between Rev.Dr. Hamlet Mbabazi Kabushenga, the university founder and Chancellor and Mr. Honest Wilkins Natukwasa the current University Director.
According to the NCHE Executive Director, Prof Mary Okwakol, the decision to close the campus for one month was reached on Monday in a meeting to establish compliance by the University.
“Please be informed that the decision to halt the operation at the University is to enable National council of Education conduct thorough Investigations into the issues discussed in the meeting that took place on November 22nd, 2021 in accordance with section 5 (f) of the Universities and other Institutions Act 2001 ( Amended),” the letter dated 23rd November 2021 reads in part.
The NCHE Executive Director directed that the Kanungu-based University should be closed by midday today (24th, November 2021) and can only resume operations after clearance from the body.
Early this month, NCHE was also forced to halt the scheduled graduation ceremony at Great Lakes Regional University over governance and management disputes amongst the university Directors.
The University Director, Natukwasa had set to hold the graduation on November 19, 2021, while Kabushenga scheduled another graduation ceremony on December 11, 2021.
The matter is currently in the courts of law.
