Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Vice President Taban Deng Gai is calling for the relocation of Upper Nile University back to Malakal city to encourage peace and development.
The university campus has been temporarily transferred from Malakal to Juba after it was partly destroyed following heavy fighting in the state in 2014.
However, the Japanese Embassy and United Nations Development Program renovated and officially handed over the campus facilities in Malakal to the government of South Sudan.
The Minister of Higher Education Gabriel Changson Chang said the university will be relocated to Malakal as soon as possible.
Changson stated that the relocation process would start with first year students, but that this will require funds.
Speaking at a Chollo cultural event in Juba, Taban, the head of infrastructure cluster, said relocating the university to Malakal will encourage peace and development in the state.
“President Kiir stopped the fighting, and yesterday, he made a very important decision concerning the vice chancellors of the five universities including Upper Nile University,” he said.
The “important decision” that the vice president referred to, is the appointment of Prof. Mamur Chuol Turuk as the new Vice-Chancellor of Upper Nile University, replacing the late Prof. Marial Awou Yol who died in September 2023.
“I want the administration of the university to take the university to Malakal, with the help of Nyajwok (Collo King) and others, to talk to the president and the government because the university will encourage culture, peace and development.”
The reconstruction works began in July 2019 on key buildings at the Malakal campus following an agreement between the government of Japan and UNDP.
The renovation project costed at least 2.5 million US dollars.
The renovated facilities include classrooms, university main halls, labs, accommodation facilities, lecturers’ accommodation, and administration blocks.
Upper Nile Universality students are currently studying at a temporary premises set up by the government in Juba following intensified violence in Malakal between 2013 and 2016.
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