By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Lira University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng has advised staff to work as a team in the planning for critical items in the shs35 Billion Annual Budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
While addressing staff and the University Council members at the Budget Conference on 3rd November 2023, Prof. Ogwal Okeng encouraged faculty Deans and Heads of Department to consult widely so that they cater for the priority areas in the next budget.
“We cherish and encourage a participatory budgeting process so we get the best development priorities. Management calls for a joint effort from all stakeholders for planning and implementation of the budget for us to meet the dreams of the University,” Prof. Ogwal Okeng asserts.
The University Council Vice Chairperson, Dr. Florence Ebila observed that there is a dire need to include cross cutting issues in the budget. “Gender issues should be taken care of in the departmental or faculty budgets. We must be practically supporting women and girls in our activities,” Dr. Florence who was the overall Chair of the Conference notes.
The University Bursar, CPA. Nathan Hagobi Hasahya decried the inadequate resources given the steady expansion of the University in terms of faculties from 3 to 6 and increasing students’ enrolment.
“We are experiencing reduced non-wage recurrent yet recurrent expenditure increases with the proportionate level of expansion,” Hagobi says adding that the university faces limited capital development against incomplete projects of Administration Block, equipping laboratories of the faculties of Medicine and Education, equipping Laundry and Sterilisation Unit, Dietary Demonstration Block computers and furniture, among others.
The Bursar revealed lack of funds to tarmac the University’s internal and external roads, a project that requires Central Government support.
Hagobi called for a meeting with the key stakeholders to chart the way forward to widen the revenue base so the university can meet its dreams. “We need team work in lobbying Government for funding to tarmac the university roads,” he says.
Key areas for Budgeting in the FY 2023/2024
The Bursar encouraged staff to plan for completion of the on-going projects before they exit the National Investment Plan, planning to boost the faculties across the board, climate change interventions, ODeL and other ICT equipment to aid Distance Learning, among others.
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