Busoga University (BU) is a private university in Uganda, affiliated with the Central Busoga Diocese of the Church of Uganda. Established in 1999, it is one of the faith-based higher education institutions that emphasize both academic learning and moral values. The university was originally founded to expand higher education access in the Busoga sub-region, with the support of Busoga Diocese and local stakeholders.
BU operates as a non-profit institution and offers a wide spectrum of certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs across the humanities, sciences, theology, and professional studies.
Location
- Main Campus: Iganga town, about 41 km northeast of Jinja on the Jinja–Tororo highway.
- Coordinates: 0°35′29″N, 33°27′32″E.
Other Campuses
As of 2015, BU maintained satellite campuses across Eastern Uganda:
- Jinja Campus – Jinja
- Kamuli Campus – Buwaiswa, Kamuli District
- Downtown Iganga Campus – Iganga town
- Bugiri Campus – Bugiri District
- Kaliro Campus – Kaliro District
- Pallisa Campus – Pallisa District
- Bugembe Campus – Bugembe (hosts the Bishop Hannington School of Divinity and Theology, a constituent faculty of BU)
History
- 1993: Busoga College Mwiri’s Board of Governors resolved to establish a university on Mwiri Hill.
- 1994: A University Formation Task Force (UFTF) was appointed to chart the process.
- 6 May 1995: BU was formally inaugurated, in the presence of the Kyabazinga of Busoga, Henry Wako Muloki.
- 1995: The Diocese of Busoga donated land and buildings of Bishop Hannington Theological College.
- 30 July 1995: Granted an interim license.
- 12 February 1999: Officially opened to students.
- 2017: Its provisional license was revoked by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE), though permission to reapply after two years was granted.
Affiliations
BU maintains international academic linkages with:
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (USA)
- University College Northampton (UK)
Academics
Certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate & Postgraduate Programmes
BU offers courses in a variety of disciplines, including:
- Philosophy & Divinity (Divinity & Theology)
- Business & Management (Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Accounting, Project Planning & Management, Agribusiness)
- Education (Education Management, Nursery & Science Education, Resource Management in Education)
- Agriculture & Environmental Studies (Agriculture, Environmental Management)
- Social Sciences (Development Studies, Guidance & Counseling, Social Work & Social Administration, Community Policing, Public Administration, Economics)
- Law
- Mass Communication
- Information Technology
Current Status
Although its license was revoked in 2017, Busoga University remains significant in discussions about expanding public higher education in Uganda. In 2018, the government directed that both MMU (Mountains of the Moon University) and Busoga University be prepared for possible transition into public institutions.
