A major milestone in the development of higher education in Karamoja has been reached following the unveiling of the Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU) in Losilang, Kotido District.
The ceremony drew hundreds of residents, regional leaders, religious figures, and international diplomats who described the launch as a historic turning point for the Ateker community.
The institution, whose founding partners include the Catholic Diocese of Moroto, the Catholic Diocese of Kotido, the Catholic Lawyers Society International (CLASI), and the Government of Uganda, is expected to promote peace, technology, innovation, and human development in the sub-region.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Karamoja, John Baptist Lokii, said the establishment of the university is one of the benefits of the ruling party’s long-term commitment to transforming the region.
“This university is one of the gains of the NRM and must be protected,” Lokii told the gathering.
The event, which also featured a thanksgiving prayer, attracted youth groups, cultural leaders, and entertainers. Among them was Karamojong youth leader and artist MCgrey (Lokutan Alex), who praised the initiative for opening doors to learners who cannot afford university education elsewhere.
“This university will help in mindset change and resolve decades of conflict in Karamoja,” he said.
CLASI President Severino Twinobusingye said the ceremony served two purposes:
“First, to thank God for the milestone achieved, and second, to inform the public about the progress so far made.”
Representing President Yoweri Museveni, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said the university is part of a long-standing NRM strategy aimed at uplifting Karamoja.
“The NRM has always had Karamoja at heart, and we have bigger plans to ensure the region develops and levels up with the rest of the country,” Mbabazi noted.
Local leaders say the university will help break long-standing barriers to higher education. Dodoth East MP Baatom Ben urged government to speed up the licensing process so the institution can begin admitting students.
“The licensing needs to be fast-tracked so that classes can start. Compulsory education in Karamoja should also be implemented because without it, many young people end up stuck in cycles of cattle raids and gun violence,” Baatom said.
Elder Simon Nangiro also welcomed the project, saying it will ease the financial burdens families face when trying to educate their children outside the region.
“Education has been too costly. A university in Karamoja lowers the cost of tertiary education and gives our people a real chance to progress,” he said.
Long-standing advocate for education in Karamoja, David Pulkol, reflected on the region’s history, recalling a time when elders symbolically buried a pen due to a misunderstanding of the value of education.
“Today, the unveiling of this university shows that the pen has finally been unearthed,” Pulkol remarked.
Dr. Robert Lilim called on the community and government to continue supporting the project. He thanked President Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, and the Catholic dioceses for their continued commitment to bringing the institution to life.
Once licensed, KAPATU is expected to become a flagship center for peacebuilding, research, innovation, and skills development for Karamoja and the wider Ateker cluster.