The Minister of Health, Jean Ruth Aceng, adamantly released funds for the construction of Gulu University’s specialized teaching hospital and Heart Institute, but could not pick up the phone from President Museveni, Prime Minister Nabaja, Speaker of Parliament Anita Amongi, and VC Gulu University George Openyjuru Ladaa, frustrating the development
GULU CITY-MONDAY, JULY 14, 2025.
By Okumu Livingstone Langol
Jean Ruth Aceng, Health Minister, she using tribal sentiment to block the Euro 155.2 million for the construction of Gulu University’s specialized 324 beds specialized Teaching Hospital and Heart Institute.
The president Museveni penned to the Health Minister on the proposal by VAMED group to design, finance, and build a specialized modern 324-bed hospital at Gulu University Teaching Hospital, on Germany Export Credit Agency Covered Financing Euro 155.2 Million, built by the Country of Turkey. The letter was dated July 2023. Directing her to COLLABORATE WITH THE Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
“As VC of Gulu University I have confirmed that Hon. Jean Ruth Aceng, Health Minister President Museveni wrote a letter to her office in line of Gulu University Speacllized 324 bed Teaching Hospital and Heart Institute, but she does not want to release the funds, when president directed her she could not answer back or response to the president call, when the Prime Minister Robina Nabaja phoned her she hung up phone when hearing the issue of Gulu University Teaching Hospital when the Speakers of Parliament Anita Amongi also phone in concerning Gulu University Teaching Hospital and Heart Institute, she hung up her phone. She is demanding that unless part of the fund meant for the Heart Institute is divided to Lira University, then she will release the fund.” Prof. George Openyjuru Ladaa stressed.
Gulu University, Prof. Openyjuru wrote a letter appealing to the National Resistance Movement Secretary General, Richard Todwong. The letter is as follows:
Dear Sir, allow me to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your steadfast leadership and support toward the advancement of Gulu University. Your unwavering commitment to the advancement the development of the Acholi Sub-Region continues to inspire hope, and your efforts are visibly transforming our institutional landscape. I thank you for your continued partnership.
The Secretary General, Rt. Hon Richard Todwong, allow me to humbly request you to support Gulu University in following up with Uganda Vision 2040, in following up with President Museveni on two major projects of strategic national importance. Both of which are directly aligned with Uganda Vision 2040, the NDPIII, and the government’s efforts to decentralize healthcare services, these two major projects are:
The construction of the specialized 320 facility at Gulu University by the VAMED group, who should design and construct it under the Germany Export Credit Agency covered financing worth Euro 155,210,000 on a Turkey basis, affordable by President Museveni.
The establishment of the Gulu University Regional Heart Centre, following the allocation of land to Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), the project by the Gulu University Council.
The background to these two major projects
President Museveni pledged on specialized 320-bed hospital at Gulu University. As you may note, the president pledged to the construction of a 320-bed specialized Hospital at Gulu University by the VAMED group, who should design and construct it under the German Export Credit Agency. Later, the president wrote a letter to Minister Jean Ruth Aceng to collaborate with the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development and liaise with the Attorney General to immediately enter into un MoU with VAMED Engineering GmbH to have this hospital constructed.
Liaise with VAMED Engineering GmbH to support them in achieving this hospital, liaise with the Minister of Education and Sports, and with Gulu University, and allocate 20 acres of land to VAMED Engineering GmbH where they will construct the hospital.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports, wrote to me 9n 24th July 2023 (Ref: ADM48/118/01) informing me of the presidential directive and requesting for confirmation of land availability where VH AMED Engineering GmbH will construct this hospital (Appendix 2: Letter from the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports to the Vice Chancellor, Gulu University dated 24th July 2023)
On 31st July 2023 (Ref: GU/CR/102/1), I officially wrote to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports, confirming the availability of the 20 acres for—-)
Chancellor Gulu University to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports, dated July 2023. However, to date, we have not received confirmation on whether the Ministry of Health has implemented the presidential directive by informing the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, or the Attorney General, to immediately enter un MoU with VAMED GmbH to have this hospital constructed as soon as possible.
The Chancellor of Gulu University, together with the University Leadership, held a high-level stakeholders meeting on Tuesday, 12th November 2024, in the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister’s Boardroom in Kampala on the issue of degozattement of the entire Gulu Central Forest Reserve measuring approximately 93 hectares (229,808 ACRES) to allow the University to use part of it for the construction of the 324 of bed specialized teaching hospital.
All officials invited from the Ministry of Education, and Sports, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, the Ministry of Health, and all their Permanent Secretaries in attendance were Hon Minster Jean Kataa Museveni, Minister Jean Ruth Aceng.
Prof. George Openyjuru Ladaa further revealed that Gulu University is waiting for the funds from the Ministry of Education and Sport to construct UFCON 2927, to construct Gulu University’s new football field arena, which was promised by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
“We are still waiting for the funds from the Government to build a new Gulu University Football event. When funds is sent, we are going to embark on the reallocate of the Football ground. We are not yet behind schedule.” Prof. George Openyjuru stressed.
In the year 2018, when the new VC Prof. Openyjuru Ladaa entered Gulu University, Gulu was rated number 14 in academic performance in the region. But, now says Gulu University is rated as the best Public University in the Country.
“The 12th Vision of Uganda Awards presented by Gulu University on the occasion of being honored as the best Visionary Public University of the year. By the people of the Republic of Uganda for the Leadership contribution towards Uganda’s middle-income status. Aspirations Visionary 2024.” Prof. George Openyjuru Ladaa produce the award to our news Correspondent
From January 2018, when I entered Gulu University as VC, the situation was bad. The University at the brink of collapsing. Students were striking at the end of the academic year, because Lecturers were not being paid, as a result, they would incite students to demonstrate, and they would be demonstrating in Gulu City.
Lectures were not even teaching, many of them would miss lectures, the students’ allowance was not paid, and that was the cause of the demonstration, and the government students who are on sponsorship, their money was not paid either.
“I think my predecessor, Dr. Prof. Nyeko Pen Mogi, was fighting his opposition politician that was the reason why things were in that order, besides that when he was appointed CV of Gulu University was not in the mainstream of the University leadership.”
When I joined the University, we imitated the audit firm of Ernst and Young to audit the book of account of the University, and we do not have a problem by now as we talk. Via then, the University compound was bushing, no slashing, and dust was everywhere?
“We are now an active academic management; the students get their certificate at the end of the examination, and lecturers have to play their roles. By then, the University population was 3,500, but now the student population of the students is 6,000.”
By the time I came here to Gulu University, there were 400 programs, but now we have 800 programs staff selling was 400the latest figure we have is double the population of teachers. Those are good management, the University now claims, even if students are on holiday, the situation remains quite palatable.
On 29 November 2024, I think the development work we contributed to this country, the achievement in development support as a modern University for the transformation of society, to the vision 2040.
