The community has been bickering with Soroti University over the ownership of 110 acres of land which the university allegedly annexed to a chunk of 460 acres initially donated to the institution by Teso College Aloet. The university opened boundaries on the disputed land in 2015, displacing more than 300 families.
The report dated 2 August 2018, was carried out from April 2018 to June 2018 raises three serious queries where monies amounting to over 1 billion shillings were grossly mismanaged in double payments, to hire lawyers, University contractor and the university secretary in legal damages that were appealed.
Prof Opuda said that despite having adequate buildings, the laboratories lack equipment such as microscopes, stools, reagents. He also says that the university lacks experienced academic staff for the medical department.
The instruction signed by the Deputy Inspector General of Government Mariam Wangadya was written on January 23, indicating that the inspectorate had received complaints against the University Secretary which need to be investigated.
Controversy over the ownership of the land stems from a donation of more than 460 acres of land to Soroti University by Teso College Aloet. But residents in the adjacent village accused the University of annexing an additional 110 acres to the chunk that was originally donated.
Okalebo wants the affected residents to vacate the land as soon as possible to allow the University to continue with its planned development on the land.
The controversy stems from a donation of more than 460 acres of land to Soroti University by Teso College Aloet. Residents in the adjacent village however accused the University of annexing an additional 110 acres to the chunk that was originally donated.
The establishment of Soroti University was approved by the Parliament and gazetted on July 16 2015. The University is supposed to train human resource in Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Engineering and Science Teacher Education. It was supposed to have its pioneer class in August 2016.
Bishop Patrick Okabe, the Chairperson Teso Parliamentary Group -TPG says that the conflict can only be addressed by opening boundaries on the disputed land in the presence of both parties.
The incident took place about two weeks ago when a group of court bailiffs demolished more than 15 houses from a disputed piece of land adjacent to Soroti University. The land measuring about 10 acres has been at the centre of controversy between the communities of Apuuton village and Soroti University.
Nyene confirmed that RDC Ocailap could have landed in trouble because of his reckless statements he made in regards to the land wrangles between the University and local community.
In a May 29th letter, Deborah Katuramu, the Secretary to the Office of the President, asks Ocailap to immediately hand over office to Isaac Kawoya, the former Hoima Resident District Commissioner pending investigation into allegations of misconduct against him.
About 60 households were forcefully evicted from the land measuring about 10 acres adjacent to Soroti district last Saturday. The land in question is under contention between Soroti University and residents.
John Otim, one of the affected residents has welcomed the decision of the security committee to arrest Achimo. Otim insists that the contested land belongs to his family, which has occupied it since 1951.
Peter Karlos Ebiau, the former Soroti Municipality parliamentary aspirant wants government to speed up the process adding that delays has demoralized several potential students who had wished to study from Soroti University.
