The quest for a public university in West Nile goes back to the 1970s.

Initial attempts by Government to establish a public university in the region were hindered by the country’s turbulent past. The desire for a government-supported university in West Nile continued to be expressed in many fora, within and outside the region.

On 11 January 2007, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met a delegation of elders from West Nile at his country home in Rwakitura, where the request for a public university was presented to him in a memorandum. The President welcomed the idea and tasked the region’s leaders to decide on suitable professional courses.

Leaders put forward strong reasons: the region’s remote location relative to Uganda’s economic hubs and the natural barrier of the River Nile; limited access to economic resources and high poverty among a largely peasant population; the inequitable distribution of higher education institutions; recurring epidemics along the borders with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and a catchment population of over 50 million within and beyond Uganda. Strategically placed in the Great Lakes region, a university would also serve peace-building, trade, health and economic empowerment.

Convinced by the proposal, the President gave his consent in a letter dated 12 May 2009 and directed the Minister of Education and Sports to expedite the establishment of a fully fledged public university in West Nile.

Milestones

  1. 1970s

    The quest begins

    Early attempts to establish a public university in West Nile are halted by the country’s turbulent past.

  2. 11 January 2007

    Elders meet the President

    A delegation of West Nile elders presents the request at Rwakitura.

  3. July – September 2007

    Technical proposal

    A committee completes the proposal, presented to the President by the West Nile Parliamentary Group.

  4. 12 May 2009

    Presidential consent

    The President directs the Ministry of Education and Sports to establish the university.

  5. 2013

    Muni University established

    Statutory Instrument No. 31 of 2013. A taskforce led by Prof. Christine Dranzoa starts the University with the Faculty of Technoscience.

  6. 2014 – 2018

    First Governing Council

    Chaired by Dr. Johnson Nkuuhe, the first Council lays the foundations of governance, academic policy and financial integrity.

  7. 2020

    Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

    A new faculty for agricultural and environmental challenges in the region and beyond.

  8. September 2023

    New Vice Chancellor

    Assoc. Prof. Simon Anguma Katrini is appointed Vice Chancellor.

  9. 29 November 2025

    8th graduation ceremony

  10. 2026

    AHEFT Prize and a teaching hospital

    Muni becomes an inaugural laureate of the Africa Higher Education for Transformation Prize and breaks ground on its Teaching and Research Hospital.

The founding taskforce

  • Prof. Christine Dranzoa
    Chairperson — founding Vice Chancellor

  • Fr. Dr. Epiphany O. Picho
    Member — University Secretary

  • Mr. James Lam Lagoro
    Member — Academic Registrar