KABALE – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, has pledged to mediate fresh negotiations between Kabale University and Kabale District Local Government to resolve the land transfer deadlock that has stalled the institution’s vital expansion.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Deputy Speaker made the commitment on Friday, September 4, 2026, while officiating at the farewell ceremony for Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, honoring her remarkable 21-year tenure as Vice Chancellor of Kabale University.
Delivering her valedictory address, Prof. Joy Kwesiga lamented that, despite many transformative achievements, she could not persuade local leaders that the university is the region’s ultimate catalyst for jobs, research, and investment.
Prof. Joy Kwesiga disclosed that the First Lady and Minister of Education, Janet Museveni, convened three inter-ministerial meetings, which resolved that Kabale District would allocate 70 acres to the expanding university while retaining 20 acres at Kikungiri Hill.
Despite the agreements and Prof. Kwesiga’s persistent follow-up, the district leadership has regrettably failed to implement the resolution, leaving the university’s long-awaited expansion hanging in the balance.
Cue in: Prof. Joy Kwesiga on Land. ENG
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, in response, pledged to facilitate fresh negotiations between Kabale University and district authorities, dismissing fears that the land transfer would risk the municipality’s Tourism City transition.
He argued that the university offers the region’s greatest opportunity for urban transformation, warning that without adequate land for expansion, the government’s larger plans for the institution would remain difficult to realize.
“Look at developed countries and see how many cities have grown around universities. The government has bigger plans for Kabale University, but if land for expansion remains limited, it will be difficult even for the government to continue with some of the plans,” the Deputy Speaker remarked.
Cue in: Tayebwa on Negotiations. ENG
The University Council Chairperson, Addison Kakuru, blamed unnamed individuals within the district leadership for deliberate sabotage, noting that even the initial 50 acres donated in 1994 faced fierce resistance from detractors.
He further revealed that, although the district council resolved to allocate the land in 1994 and the university began operations in 2002, all subsequent efforts to secure additional acreage for expansion have consistently failed.
Cue in: Kakuru on Leadership Sabotage. ENG
Kabale University Chancellor, Canon Matthew Rukikaire, praised Prof. Joy Kwesiga for her resilient and dedicated service, revealing that they had requested her reappointment from President Museveni, who cited legal constraints against it.
However, Rukikaire noted that the President had assured the university administration of a planned meeting with the 83-year-old outgoing Vice Chancellor to explore redeploying her elsewhere for continued national service.
Cue in: Rukikaire on Prof. Joy’s Tenure. ENG
Prof. Joy Kwesiga joined Kabale University as Vice Chancellor in 2005, leaving behind a distinguished career at Makerere University. Under her leadership, the institution secured its Charter in 2014 and gained public university status in 2015.
When she assumed office, the university had only 42 students and a modest budget of about UGX 200 million, but by September 2026, enrollment had surged to over 8,000 students, supported by nearly 500 staff and a budget exceeding UGX 70 billion.
Prof. Joy Kwesiga now leaves Kabale University immensely strengthened, making it the largest academic institution in the Kigezi sub-region and the fourth-ranked research university in Uganda.
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