Busitema University was established as a public university under the universities and other Tertiary institutions Act 2001 instrument No. 22 of 2007. This followed the accreditation of the university and its initial academic programs by National council for Higher Education in February 2007.
Busitema University is a multi-campus public university located in the Eastern region of Uganda. Its main campus situated in Busitema, with additional campuses in Nagongera, Namasagali, Arapai, Mbale, Pallisa and Kaliro. Established by statutory instrument in 2007.
Initially, Busitema University started with two operational campuses. Busitema campus focusing on Engineering and Technology, and Nagongera campus with a focus on Science and Education. To date, the university has six operational campuses and one study center in Tororo town focusing on short and skilled-based training courses. The university has grown from two faculties and three academic programs to six faculties and 83 academic programs across various specializations.
Busitema University’s niche is practical sciences, relevant technology, productive education and innovation for sustainable development.
The University offers a diverse range of programs across various faculties;
• Faculty of Engineering – Busia campus focuses on irrigation, mechanization, agro processing among others
• Faculty of Science and Education -Nagongera campus Tororo focuses on science education and ICT in education
• Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences -Namasagali campus kamuli focuses on sustainable use of environment and natural resources with emphasis on climate change mitigation and natural resources economics
• Faculty of Health Science -Mbale campus focuses on Health Sciences and is actively participating in research areas in malaria, use of ICT in health, as well as maternal and child Health
• Faculty of Management Sciences -Pallisa campus focuses on management sciences, tourism and hospitality and carrying out research in business survival, organizational, rationality and behavior
• Faculty of Agriculture and animal science – Arapai campus focuses on crop production, animal production and Agribusiness
Motto: Pursuing Excellence
Vision: “A place that excels in academics and professional skills in sciences, technology and innovation”
Mission: “To offer top-notch training, conduct, quality research and share knowledge to drive social and economic growth, leading to long-term development”
Core values
•Respect
• Professionalism
• Customer first
• Innovativeness
• Integrity
Mandate: “Provision of higher education, promotion of research, dissemination of knowledge and advancement of learning.
Strategic objectives of Busitema University
• Strengthening Excellence in Education and students’ life
• Increasing High Impact Research, innovation, and Entrepreneurship
• Strengthening partnership and Engagement for growth
• Increasing productivity through Effective leadership governance and management
Strategic plan for the period 2020/21-2024/25 focuses on enhancing excellence in education and students’ life, fostering high impact research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, strengthening partnerships and engagement to drive growth, and improving productivity through effective leadership, governance and management
Administrative Board of the university:
• Deputy vice chancellor (Finance and Administration)
• Principal Institutional Advancement officer
• Director planning and Institutional development
• Personal secretary (University secretary)
• Senior Assistant Registrar – FOE
• Academic Registrar
• Laboratory Technician
• Asst. IT- officer
• Assistant IT Officer – Web systems
• Deputy Dean of students
• Library
The governing organs of the university are in line with the requirements of the universities and other institutions. Act 2001
University Council
The university council is the supreme policy formulation organ of the university. Its also responsible for the overall administration of the university and ensuring the due implementation of the objects and functions of the university.
The council functions through one (1) board and four (4) committees namely
• Appointments Board
• Finance, planning and investment committee
• Students Affairs and disciplinary committe
• Audit committee
• Quality Assurance, gender and ICT committee
University Senate: University Senate is a formal governing body and is responsible for the organization, control and direction of academic matters of the university. Busitema Senate is authorized initiate academic policies, regulate instruction programs, advise on admission qualifications, set academic standards and decide proficiency standards.
Top management of the university consists of the following officers
• Vice Chancellor, responsible for the academic, Administrative, and financial affairs of the university
• University Bursar, manages the recurrent and development budget for the university
• University Secretary, responsible for general administration of the university
• Student Dean, responsible for supervision of students’ welfare
• University Library, responsible to develop, collect, manage, disseminate, control and coordinate all library and information services
• Academic Registrar, responsible for academic matters including admission, development, curriculum, examination management, research and publication
• Deputy vice chancellor Academic affairs, responsible over academic affairs
• DVC’ office of Academic affairs, responsible over academic affairs of the university
• Finance and Administration, responsible for planning and development of the university
• Directorate of internal Audit, responsible to provide independent, objective assurance and consulting service designed to add value and improve the effectiveness of the university governance, risk management and internal control
• Directorate of Health services, responsible to provide primary healthcare services at the university
• Directorate of Human resource, responsible to assist the university and its employees to implement, train and build strong relation system
• Directorate of institutional Advancement, responsible for managing university reputation
• Directorate of ICT, responsible for ICT development in the university
• Directorate of planning and development, responsible for managing and coordinating the development, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of university – wide planning, investment and resource mobilization processes
• Directorate of legal Affairs
The Students’ Welfare Department (Dean of Students)
The Dean of Students’ office supervises students’ welfare, such as coordinating the formulation of policies related to their well-being, overseeing academic programs of students, spiritual support, looking into policies relating to Students’ stay and conduct at the university
Then Dean of students’ department also gives oversight to the Students’ Guild, the students governing body, the elections of the Guild president, resident campus commissioner (RCC) and campus leadership.
The Dean of Students caters for students’ affairs in three (3) main areas,
• University Halls of Residence
• Recreation and Games
• Spiritual Centers
In recognition of its commitment to internationalization, Busitema University was ranked as the 9th best institution in Uganda for international students in 2024