Students, parents protest proposed renaming of Busoga University

Students and parents of Busoga University have protested a proposed name change, warning it threatens the institution’s identity and could affect graduates’ academic transcripts.

One of the Main Buildings at the defunct Busoga University which is set to resume operations this year (Photo/Courtesy)

Jinja, Uganda: Students, alumni, parents and stakeholders of Busoga University have protested a move by the institution’s Management Taskforce to change the university’s name, warning that the proposal threatens the school’s identity and could negatively affect graduates’ academic records.

The proposed names include “Busoga University Public (BUP)” and “Busoga Public University (BUPU)”, with a decisive meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 10:00am at Fairway Hotel.

Students, both current and former, say the proposed rebranding was introduced without adequate consultation and undermines the historical and institutional significance of the name Busoga University, which they argue carries regional, academic and legal legitimacy.

According to the protesters, the name Busoga University was adopted after extensive consultations involving prominent leaders and elders of the sub-region, including the late Henry Waako Mulooki, former Chief Justice Waako Wambuzi, the late Cyriano Bamwoze, Mohammad Kisambira Lubega and Rebecca Kadaga.

The protesters further cite two presidential letters issued in 2018 by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, which guided on the transformation of Busoga and Bunyoro universities into public institutions. They argue that the directives focused on governance and operational streamlining—not a change of institutional name.

“The President never talked about changing the name. He talked about improving operations and management,” said one student leader, who warned that altering the university’s name could complicate graduates’ transcripts, certificates and future verification processes.

The students and parents are specifically calling on the chairperson of the Management Committee, John Tabuti, to halt the name-change process, saying it risks destabilising the institution and disadvantaging learners academically and professionally.

They warned that demonstrations will follow if the Tuesday meeting endorses the proposed rebranding.

By press time, efforts to obtain a comment from members of the Management Taskforce were unsuccessful, with all contacted phone numbers switched off.