Prof. Francis Omaswa has been installed as the first Chancellor of Soroti University.
Established by Statutory Instrument in 2015, and ascending to the heights as Uganda’s 9th public University, Soroti University has also been declared a fully-fledged Public University joining the likes of MUNI, Gulu and Busitema.
There are over 43 universities in Uganda, 11 of those are public; including Soroti University.
President Yoweri Museveni in his speech read by Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo, who is also Woman Member of Parliament for Katakwi district, congratulated Omaswa for accepting to be the Chancellorship of Soroti University.
Museveni said he has known Omaswa for quite a long time and that together, they had accomplished many things for the benefit of the country.
“Today is yet another milestone in our working time together and I have no doubt, he will lead Soroti University to even greater heights,” Museveni said.
He said a university has a central agent to national transformation and renewal, has many roles and responsibilities, many partners and serves many constituencies.
The president committed to seeing Soroti University continue to prosper as one of the leading higher education institutions in the country.
He urged the university staff to work closely with different Government Ministries and Departments to ensure their programmes are relevant and aligned to national priorities and needs, improve on the substance of national polices and broadly contribute to national development and the realization of Vision 2040.
In her remarks, Alupo congratulated Soroti University upon becoming a fully-fledged University.
She supported the idea of establishing a Referral and Teaching hospital at the Soroti as requested by Prof. Omaswa.
Representing Janet Museveni the minister of Education and Sports, Joyce Kaducu, the State minister for Primary Education, said as a ministry, they are sure Prof. Omaswa will add value to the university.
In his speech, Omaswa lauded Alupo for her contribution towards the establishment of Soroti University during her tenure as minister of Education and Sports.
“Sitting me on this chair like a baby bonds very well with the future of this university. I thank the family of Soroti University for welcoming me,” Omaswa said.
He assured the President and Ugandans of total commitment to working and growing the university.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Robert Odongo, thanked government of Uganda especially President Museveni for establishing Soroti University and promised to fulfill all the aspirations of their fore fathers.
The university currently has two schools namely; school of Health Sciences and School of Engineering and Technology which were established in 2018.
Prof. Omaswa has over the years earned distinguished honours as a global and International executive who has served in different capacities, including the Global Health Workforce Alliance.
Prof Omaswa is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, founding president of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, and a senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public.
He is also a graduate of Makerere Medical School, Kampala, Uganda and once served as Director General of health services in Ministry of Health.
