Veteran academic and Makerere University Associate Professor Dr. Savino Biryomumaisho has been appointed Academic Registrar of the Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU), marking a significant milestone in the institution’s drive towards full operationalisation.
The appointment was announced by the KAPATU Project Council alongside two other key appointments, with Dr. Annette Kezaabu named Vice Chancellor and Dr. Daniel Lumonya appointed Chief Quality Assurance Officer.
However, Biryomumaisho’s appointment has attracted particular attention within higher education circles, given his extensive academic career spanning more than three decades at Makerere University and his experience in university teaching, research and academic administration.
The KAPATU Project Council congratulated the newly appointed officials and expressed confidence in their ability to steer the institution as it prepares to open its doors to students.
“The KAPATU Project Council is pleased to announce the following appointments: Dr. Annette Kezaabu, PhD – Vice Chancellor; Assoc. Prof. Savino Biryomumaisho, PhD – Academic Registrar; Dr. Daniel Lumonya, PhD – Chief Quality Assurance. We congratulate them on their appointments and wish them success in advancing the University’s vision,” the council announced.
A seasoned Makerere academic
Biryomumaisho joins KAPATU with an impressive academic résumé built largely at Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and most prestigious public university.
According to his academic profile, he has served as an Associate Professor at Makerere University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources since 1994, making him one of the institution’s longest-serving academics.
He holds a PhD in Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinical and Comparative Medicine from Makerere University and has remained actively involved in teaching, supervising graduate students and conducting research.
His scholarly work spans veterinary medicine, animal health, ethnoveterinary medicine and livestock disease management.
Among his recent publications are studies on ethnoveterinary knowledge for controlling chicken diseases in Uganda and research into the distribution of cattle ticks in high livestock-density districts, underscoring his contribution to improving Uganda’s livestock sector through scientific research.
Beyond research, Biryomumaisho has maintained professional membership in the Uganda Veterinary Association, reflecting his continued engagement in advancing veterinary science and higher education in Uganda.
Critical role in building a new university
His appointment comes at a defining moment for KAPATU, a university project intended to transform higher education opportunities in Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region.
The Academic Registrar is among the most influential offices in any university, responsible for admissions, academic records, examinations, student registration, graduation processes and implementation of Senate academic decisions.
Education experts note that establishing credible academic systems from the outset is essential for any new university seeking accreditation and public confidence.
With years of experience working within Makerere University’s academic structures, observers say Biryomumaisho brings institutional knowledge that could prove invaluable as KAPATU develops its academic policies, enrols students and prepares future graduation programmes.
New leadership team takes shape
Biryomumaisho joins a new top management team headed by Vice Chancellor Dr. Annette Kezaabu, while Dr. Daniel Lumonya assumes responsibility for quality assurance.
The appointments signal a transition in KAPATU’s governance structure as the institution moves closer to becoming fully operational.
Previously, the university’s leadership structure had been headed by Prof. Rev. Fr. Callisto Locheng as Vice Chancellor during the project’s establishment phase, with Dr. Annette Kezaabu serving in senior academic leadership. The latest appointments indicate a reorganisation as the university enters its next phase of development.
A university born out of Karamoja’s aspirations
KAPATU—Karamoja Peace and Technology University—was conceived as a strategic intervention to expand access to higher education in the historically underserved Karamoja sub-region.
According to university documents, the institution aims to become a public university focused on peacebuilding, science, technology, innovation and socio-economic transformation.
The project has received support from political, religious and community leaders from Karamoja, with officials arguing that the region has long lacked adequate access to university education despite its growing population and development potential.
Over the past two years, KAPATU has undertaken several milestones, including infrastructure development, stakeholder consultations, inspections by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), and engagements with senior government officials.
Among those who have publicly backed the project are Vice President Jessica Alupo, First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni, and leaders from the Karamoja sub-region.
Building academic credibility
For a university still in its formative years, attracting experienced scholars has been viewed as one of the biggest indicators of institutional readiness.
The appointment of a senior academic such as Biryomumaisho is expected to strengthen confidence in KAPATU’s academic governance.
University registrars play a central role in ensuring compliance with higher education standards, maintaining academic integrity and coordinating admissions, examinations and graduation processes.
His long experience at Makerere University is likely to provide institutional expertise in designing systems capable of meeting national quality assurance requirements.
Focus on quality
The simultaneous appointment of Dr. Daniel Lumonya as Chief Quality Assurance Officer further signals KAPATU’s emphasis on academic standards.
Quality assurance has become increasingly important in Uganda’s higher education sector as universities seek accreditation, maintain programme standards and meet regulatory requirements.
Combined with Biryomumaisho’s appointment, education observers say the university is assembling a leadership team capable of laying strong academic foundations before student enrolment begins.
Looking ahead
As Academic Registrar, Biryomumaisho is expected to oversee the establishment of admission procedures, academic calendars, student registration systems, examination regulations and graduation frameworks that will define the institution’s operations for years to come.
The appointments also come as KAPATU continues its push toward full operationalisation, with the university positioning itself as a catalyst for education, innovation and peacebuilding in Karamoja.
Whether the institution ultimately realises that ambition will depend not only on infrastructure and funding but also on the calibre of the academic leadership now being assembled.
With one of Makerere University’s long-serving associate professors now entrusted with managing its academic affairs, KAPATU has taken another significant step in its journey from a regional development project to a fully-fledged university serving Uganda and the wider East African region.
