INTRODUCTION
Nile University is founded as an Independent Private University in the northwestern region of Uganda. It is situated in Arua District – West Nile region, with the aim of promoting quality education, academic excellence, professional practice, and integral growth and development. It is an ambitious new University, for promoting regional and continental development and through its unique and practical programmes, especially, through the teaching of practical courses and modern technology, is an answer to the many challenges of Africa and humanity.
HISTORY OF NILE UNIVERSITY
The history of Nile University dates as far back as 1860’s when St. Daniel Comboni had a plan of starting a University with four learning Centers in the Equatorial region and along the various coasts of Africa. “A plan of a re-birth or re-generation of Africa.” His famous slogan was, “Save Africa with Africans.”
P. Mario Cistemino Festa di Agostino wrote in his article; “A Ghost hounding us: Comboni’s “Nile” University,” in the book DIALOGO: Uganda province-December 1995; page 20-23.
Again another quotation; “I look around for those four Centres of ours, as after 130 years we should have established them, and I find only one, somehow, that of Asmara University of our Comboni Sisters, I think we should hurry up, as we are somewhat late, and put up another one,” writes P. Mario Cistemino Festa di S. Agostino in DIALOGO: Uganda Province – Dec. 1995, page 20. in the article: “A Ghost hounding us: Comboni’s “Nile” University.” According to Fr. Salvano Renzo (RIP), St. Daniel Comboni had conceived this idea and plan of the University by around 1865.
In 1994 Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril a Master’s Degree programme student at Makerere University conceived and initiated the idea of establishing a University in Arua – West Nile region in partial fulfillment of Bishop Daniel Comboni’s idea of promoting University Education in the equatorial region and also in order to remember and honour him. As one of the extraordinary intelligentsia in West Nile region Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril hoped to work for the renaissance of Africa inspired by large number of intelligentsia whose skills, knowledge and expertise could be used to revolutionize and revitalize Africa the source of very many civilizations, the only Continent with biggest deposit of natural resources in the World and lead it to a United States of Africa with a huge economy which can sustain the whole world.
In the year 1995, he kick-started the initial idea with consultations and discussions which he carried out widely among his close friends, professionals, Technocrats and among other experts in the field of education whom he thought could share this vision and support it. The students’ strikes of 1995 in Makerere University over the Higher Education Cost Sharing Policy deepened Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril’s strong feelings for the establishment of this University in West Nile region as part of the University Education Cost Reduction Strategy for the poor communities in the region. According to Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril he gave the name “Nile University” in consideration of its location along the River Nile in Uganda and giving it a Universal stature.
On 13th November 1996 at Ediofe Cathedral Parish Father’s House in the sitting room of the then Vicar General of Arua Diocese Msgr. Kasto Adeti from 11.00am. to 1.00pm. Fr. Adiga Nakari Cyril invited Late Fr. Leo Lee Ichile, and Msgr. Kasto Adeti to have their first official and formal meeting that kick-started the process of establishing the University Project.
On 6th Nov.2002, Nile University was registered with the Registrar of Companies as a legal entity under the Company’s Act (Cap.85) of the Laws of the Republic of Uganda.
On 23rd August 2003, Nile University began its academic year that registered 56 students with the aim of promoting quality education, academic excellence, professional practice, and integral growth and development.
On 22nd January 2004, Nile University was granted Interim Authority period of four (4) years by National Council for Higher Education.
On 23rd September 2008 Nile University signed first Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda Martyrs University for affiliation and to have its academic programmes accredited by Uganda Martyrs University. This Memorandum of Understanding was meant to prepare Nile University for accreditation and develop its own Academic programmes for accreditation by National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act.
On 26th March 2010, Nile University was affiliated and accredited to Uganda Martyrs University as a Campus by National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 6th April 2001 amended in 2003 (Article 111) following its inspection on 12th January 2010.
On 13th August 2010, Nile University Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda Martyrs University to regularize the relationship between the two Institutions.
The choice to affiliate and accredit Nile University to Uganda Martyrs University was purposefully done based on the conviction that Uganda Martyrs University’s credibility and experience in University affairs coupled with its capacity to mentor could have helped to give a sense of direction to Nile University as required by the National Council for Higher Education in Uganda to propel Nile University to its full independence and autonomy.
National Council of Higher Education at its 44th Meeting of 28th August 2017 granted Nile University Letter of Interim Authority for a period of Three years (2017 – 2020).
At its 46th meeting of 20th February 2018, National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) declared NILE UNIVERSITY licensed in order to operate as a Private University. It states: “IN THE EXERCISE OF THE POWERS CONFERRED UPON THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION (NCHE) BY THE UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ACT, NO. 7 OF 2001, AS AMENDED, THIS NOTCE IS ISSUED THIS 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2018.” Nile University is now an Independent fully fledged Private University with its own rights.
National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) also accredited 22 academic programmes to the newly licensed Nile University on the same date at its 46th meeting of 20th February 2018.
The need for a University in the region was long overdue, taking into consideration the historic problems that impacted negatively on human resources development, such as the keeping of West Nile as a labour reserve during the colonial era and the post-independence conflicts in the region. In addition, the region is very remote from the Capital City Kampala where socio-economic opportunities are much better.
With a population of over two million (2,000,000) and vast natural endowments, Nile University is established to meet the region’s development challenges. Like many good things, the start of Nile University has not been easy. It took the great sacrifice and determination of committed individuals in West Nile and elsewhere to take the University to the stage it has reached today.
Nile University intends to enhance manpower resources training to deal with local, regional, national and global African and world issues. Promotion of peace and security through relevant programmes that appeal to neighbouring Countries and Africa will be enforced. Global environmental, scientific, technological, social and management issues will be dealt with in a more practical and integral manner. This is outlined in the Nile University Campus’s vision and mission: to become a Centre of excellence for academic and professional practice and producing citizens capable of undertaking community development as well as providing knowledge and skills through teaching, research and service provision to meet the development needs of society by harnessing available human, physical, and technological resources.
Location of Nile University.
Nile University is located in Arua District in the North West of Uganda 5km from Arua on the Arua – Moyo road on a 32.1 acre piece of land.
The University has 206 hectares piece of land at Uriama-Ocodri 25kms along Arua Rhino camp road in Uriama sub-county, Terego county. This will be the permanent home of the University.
The University has also another 38.0 hectares piece of land in Lukuma about 16km from Arua town on Rhino camp road, which will be used for future expansion
