Executive Summary-Our History
In 2020, under the guidance of the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese (His Grace John Baptist Odama), a community-based organization (Africanland Programme for Development and Empowerment Uganda (AFRIPODE-Uganda) was established by Ms. Ayoo Lillian Aliga (a vision bearer) and her team. This aimed at uplifting local communities. From 2020 to 2023, AFRIPODE-Uganda provided vital services including agricultural skills training, technical skills development, and entrepreneurship training across four districts (Omoro, Nwoya, Amuru and Gulu) in West Acholi. Despite its impactful work, AFRIPODE-Uganda ceased operations in 2023 due to funding challenges.
Undeterred, unwavering commitment to her dream persisted. In 2024, the vision was reignited and formalized with the registration of a new institution by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) on November 6, 2024 with support of Mr. Lual Bul Mabior Bul from South Sudan and other three coopted founders and various promoters. The institution was later renamed on June 12, 2025, as the Land of Africa University of Science, Engineering, and Technology (LAUSET) in order to shoot the main dream.
LAUSET’s mission is to bridge the regional educational gaps in Northern Uganda, a region deeply affected by two decades of the post-traumatic Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war. The university stands as a beacon of hope and a center of excellence dedicated to nurturing future generations in science, engineering, and technology. It is deeply rooted in the community empowerment principles that guided AFRIPODE-Uganda, continuing the mission to equip youth and women with the skills and knowledge necessary to transform their lives and communities’ transformation.
LAUSET proposes a transformative higher-education hub in Gulu, Northern Uganda, by offering world-class education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to accelerate post-conflict recovery and regional development. Grounded in STEM, the university aims to bridge the significant educational gaps created by two decades of violence led by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and chronic underinvestment in technical training. Despite government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) initiatives such as Universal Primary and Secondary Education, Northern Uganda still loses talented youth to migration or educational attrition. At the same time, thousands, including refugees from neighbouring South Sudan, remain without tertiary options.
LAUSET's vision aligns with Uganda's Vision 2040, the National Development Plan IV, and the African Union's Agenda 2063, all of which emphasise the role of science and technology in development. It also supports key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), notably SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
LAUSET will address limited technical education options, high youth unemployment, and low research capacity by offering practical, industry-aligned STEM programmes. Its curricula will create job-ready graduates and promote applied research to solve local challenges. By linking academia with industry and government, the university aims to foster innovation and revitalise Northern Uganda's economy. LAUSET will prioritise inclusion by recruiting students from Uganda and beyond, particularly women, refugees, and other underrepresented groups. It will also engage industry and research partners, with an experienced team ensuring global standards and local relevance.