By Our Reporter 

Soroti University has finally commissioned its long-awaited main gate, a Sh1.2 billion project designed to strengthen security, improve access control and give the institution a modern architectural entrance.

The new facility was officially commissioned on Friday, September 25, 2026, after months of construction and delays that extended the project beyond its initial completion schedule.

The project, implemented by the National Housing and Construction Company Limited (NHCC), includes a 60-metre wall fence, a security house with a detention room, 13 CCTV surveillance cameras, solar power systems, monitoring screens, computers, walkways and gate-control facilities.

The entrance also incorporates provisions for persons with disabilities, with university officials saying the infrastructure is intended to improve access for both pedestrians and motorists.

Construction began on September 28, 2025, and was completed on May 15, 2026. Although the project was initially expected to take six months, officials said election-related challenges resulted in a 132-day delay and an extension of the construction period.

At the commissioning ceremony, university officials reported that NHCC had so far received approximately Sh1.1 billion, equivalent to 88.3 percent of the contract sum. The remaining amount is expected to be paid after the contractor addresses identified defects.

Eng. Paul Anguria, Deputy Chief Estates Officer at Soroti University, said the project was intended to establish a modern, secure and functional entrance capable of supporting controlled movement into and out of the institution.

He said the new gate enhances institutional security and access management while also contributing to the university's architectural identity through its design.

Soroti University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Robert Ikoja Odongo said the prolonged opening of the gate had generated growing concern among students and nearly triggered unrest.

He, however, said the commissioning marks an important milestone for the university, with only a holding area for impounded vehicles yet to be completed.

The university expects the new infrastructure to improve surveillance, streamline access and strengthen overall security at one of the region's key institutions of higher learning.