Out of the 800 government sponsored students at Gulu University only six are pursuing a degree in Biosystem Engineering out of the 80 students enrolled on the course.

The course that was spearheaded by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology in 2008 under its Millennium Science Initiative, extended a competitive grant by World Bank in the amount of Shs 2billion to Gulu University to introduce a Bachelors of Science in Biosystem Engineering whose goal was promote interest in science and technology.

During the hand over ceremony of the newly equipped workshop, last weekend at Gulu University, the Dean of Faculty of Biosystem Engineering Mr Marion Okot noted that the government needs to increase its scholarships for Biosystem students at Gulu University, after the grant ends in four years time.

“The region and the country at large need more Biosystem Engineers to produce goods and services and recycle waste products in environmentally sustainable manner,” he said.

“Why would we run up and down to central region when machines break down yet we have the potential to produce it on the ground,” he asked.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Gulu University Professor Callistius Baliddawa noted that the course that has been donor funded for the last four years needs government intervention by having more students under the government sponsorship programme.

“It’s quite expensive, most of the lectures are practical and the learners need more of the learning materials which calls for government’s intervention to fill the gap left by the donors,” he said.

The Secretary for Uganda National Council of Science and technology Dr Peter Ndemere however noted that they are pushing for their recognition as scientists so that the government allocates to them more funds.

“There is law that is in the pipe line for scientist to be recognized and if it is done there is no doubt that we shall be recognized and our pending issues will be resolved,” he said.

The four years course started at Gulu University in 2008 with 21 students and they were all being sponsored by the World Bank.

Gulu University is the first University in Africa to introduce a course in Biosystem Engineering, prior to this, students either went for Biology or Engineering but this is a combination of both fields.

The University is lobbying for more funds from the government to increase on the government sponsored students who are enrolled on the course.  Gulu University has a student population of 4,500.