Torit University Plan Gains Momentum in Eastern Equatoria
The ad hoc committee tasked with operationalizing Torit University of Science and Technology (TUST) has formally received the former UNMISS compound in Torit from the Government of Eastern Equatoria State. The committee, composed of senior lecturers, took over offices and associated facilities on Thursday.
The handover is presented by state and university officials as a practical step toward restarting an institution created in 2010, after years of limited activity. The new site is expected to serve as a base for administration and future teaching operations.
UNMISS Closure Opens Space for Education Infrastructure
UNMISS closed its Torit offices late last year, after which the facility and its assets were transferred to the Eastern Equatoria State government. The state cabinet then decided to allocate the compound and its buildings to Torit University.
The assets handed over include two vehicles, furniture, and stationery, according to officials involved in the transfer. For the committee, these items are described as essential for establishing basic operational capacity during the university’s early phase.
Eastern Equatoria Government Backs TUST Operationalization
Information Minister and government spokesperson Elia John Ahaji, who leads the ministerial committee overseeing the asset handover, said the state government intends to work closely with the university’s administration to make TUST operational.
“Today is a remarkable day for the people of Eastern Equatoria and South Sudan,” Ahaji said, describing the move as a milestone that reorients the former UNMISS compound toward higher education. He said the government is ready to support the committee’s work as it moves toward opening.
Youth Opportunities and Community Stability in Officials’ Focus
Ahaji urged the ad hoc committee to speed up the university’s opening, arguing that the institution could serve both the local community and the wider South Sudanese population. He framed the campus as a pathway for youth to access learning and structured opportunities.
“I urge them to accelerate the process; the youth of Eastern Equatoria, many of whom are still struggling in the bushes, are desperate for this university,” he said. He added that operationalizing the institution could help reduce crime and strengthen the labor market.
TUST Leadership Targets Late February or Early March Opening
After the handover, TUST vice chancellor Professor Pasquale Tiberio Moilinga thanked Governor Louis Lobong and the cabinet for allocating the compound to the university. He described the decision as a notable precedent in the national context.
“This is truly historic! It is unprecedented for a government to allocate such a significant facility to an educational institution in South Sudan,” Moilinga said. He stated that academic programs are being prepared ahead of a planned launch by late February or early March.
Moilinga said an earlier target to begin last November was delayed, but the university now expects to welcome its first cohort of students within the revised timeframe. “The doors of the government are always open to us,” he said, pointing to ongoing cooperation.
Higher Education Seen as a Long-Term Dividend for South Sudan
Both government and university representatives linked the project to long-term social and economic benefits. Officials emphasized workforce readiness and innovation, while university leadership highlighted the broader value of expanding academic options.
“The dividends of higher education are vast,” Moilinga said, suggesting the institution could create opportunities for young people and the community around Torit. The committee’s next steps will determine how quickly the campus moves from handover to full operations.