The University of Rwanda will surrender some of its idle assets and facilities to district authorities after a restructuring exercise saw some of its colleges and campuses moved to new locations.

The facilities housing three campuses in Muvumba, Kabgayi and Nyamishaba will be handed over to district officials for use in future development projects.
The University of Rwanda (UR) has hailed what it described as a successful conclusion to the restructuring exercise that saw the merger of campuses and consolidation of programmes.

Director for communication at UR, Mike Karangwa, said agreements would soon be signed between the districts and the university for the transfer of the properties.

Mr Karangwa added that while some properties will be handed free of charge to districts, others will be subject to different provisions and could earn an income for the university.

He gave the example of some research facilities such as fish ponds in Huye district, from which the university was earning an income by selling fish to the surrounding communities.

Relocation exercise

Some lecturers complained that the relocation exercise would mean a longer commute for them to access the research facilities.

“The cost implications is huge especially for those who will now have to travel between districts and the university management does not cater for such costs,” said a lecturer who asked for anonymity.

“We have not heard of any lecturers who failed to turn up for work and any resistance by staff members will be dealt with accordingly. However, the university management is touring all campuses to assess the implications of the relocation,” said Mr Karangwa.

The restructuring exercise saw colleges and programmes consolidated into seven new campuses of the University of Rwanda.

The former school of Communication, Arts and of Law, which used to be in in the southern part of the country was moved to Kigali to form the Gikondo Campus.

Nyarugenge Campus, which is the former college of science and technology became home to the schools of science, engineering, architecture, ICT, mining and geology.

The schools of nursing and midwifery merged with the school of medicine and health sciences at Remera and Huye campuses.

Rukara Campus became home to college of education while Busogo campus now houses the school of agriculture and food science leaving Nyagatare Campus to be the school of veterinary medicine and engineering in agriculture.

READ: Government comes to the rescue of University of Rwanda funding woes

ALSO READ: University of Rwanda looks to alumni for grants