Upon assuming his responsibilities as the chairperson of the new 14-member governing council at Victoria University on Wednesday, Joram Kahenano, has said the priority now is to help Victoria University attained the prestigious and important Charter Status.

“We have already made an application (for a charter to the National Council for Higher Education); the Council is going to concentrate on those things that NCHE requires of us. We have looked at the infrastructure and set up,” Kahenano told journalists shortly after swearing it.

Under the Universities And Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (As Amended In, 2003 And As Amended In, 2006), “Charter” means a charter granted by the President under this Act as evidence that the University meets the requirements and standards of academic excellence set by the National Council.

Rajiv Ruparelia who represented the board of directors of Victoria University also pledged to support the new council members in order to ensure quality education of students through putting much emphasis on innovation and providing a good conducive learning environment.

“The beautiful thing with higher education, it has no boundaries, it has no limits. The only limitation is ‘ourselves’ and that limitation will come from the Council and Management on how they wish to drive this University,” he said.

The University chancellor Prof John Asibo Opuda noted that there is a need to provide quality teaching in Ugandan universities such that they can produce transformative graduates.

He added that to achieve this, universities need to have modern capabilities in order to provide good training that involves practical experience.

The Council, sworn in by Her Worship Agnes Nkonge at Victoria University in Kampala, is made up of Joram Kahenano (Chairperson- Specialized in Leadership), Joseph Biribonwa (Vice Chairperson- Specialized in Governance), Rajiv Ruparelia (Member-Representative of Directors) and Dr. Chirag Kotecha (Member-specialized in Health).

Others are Andrew Mwenda (Member – Specialized in Journalism), James Kalebo (Member-specialist in education), Dr. Mary Kanyiginya (Member-Specialized in Human Resources), Sameer Thakar (Member- Specialized in Finance) and Dr. Consolata Kabonesa (Member Specialized in Gender/ Senate).

Also on the governing council are Rashid Ssemambo (Member-Specialized in Law), Dr Lawrence Muganga (Member- Specialized in Education), Mark Serebe (Member as Guild President of the University), John Bosco Waliraki (Member- Victoria University staff representative and Katusabe Ssemwezi (Ex-Officio-University Secretary).

Victoria University is one of the fastest growing Universities in Uganda, having been opened in 2011.