Muni University Struggles to Attract Qualified Staff from West Nile – Vice Chancellor

Arua – Muni University is facing difficulties in recruiting qualified academic staff from the West Nile region, according to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Simon Anguma Katrini.

Speaking during a recent engagement, Prof. Katrini attributed the challenge to generally low education standards in the region, which have limited the pool of eligible candidates for teaching and administrative positions at the university.

"Our efforts to prioritize local talent in staffing have been hampered by the prevailing low education levels," Prof. Katrini said. "While we remain committed to empowering the region, the shortage of adequately trained individuals remains a major obstacle."

Muni University, established in 2013 as the first public university in the West Nile sub-region, has long envisioned playing a key role in uplifting the socio-economic standards of the area through education and innovation. However, staffing gaps threaten to undermine this mission.

Prof. Katrini called for urgent investment in improving primary, secondary, and tertiary education across West Nile to create a stronger foundation for future professionals. He also appealed to government and development partners to support initiatives aimed at strengthening academic capacity in the region.

The Vice Chancellor’s remarks come at a time when the university is expanding its academic programs and seeking to enhance research output, areas that critically depend on the availability of highly qualified staff.