THE Institute of Rural Development planning (IRDP) is planning to construct new research center at Nala area.

The institutes Rector, Prof. Hozen Mayaya, said the facility will be installed with the latest research facilities, to help improve academic performance.

Prof. Mayaya unveiled this over the weekend during a special launch of the 1.9bn/- Miyuji campus with an eye to promote the teaching-learning process at the college.

 “We have obtained a total of 700 acres of land in Nala for the project in order to meet the fast pace of human population, which goes hand in hand with increasing of student's admission requirements in our college,” he observed.

He expressed, the institute started with 14 staff and 13 students in 1979 and has keep on growing impressively to the tune it currently have a total of 400 staff members and over 14, 000 students.

“This fast-growing trend alerts us over the need to work harder in order to ensure we stand ready to accommodate expanded number of students as predicted in the future,” he said.

He said the college is currently implementing its well -developed six- year strategy (2021/22-2025/26), for improving students accommodation hostels, staff structures, classrooms as well as other vital academic facilities.

Apart from receiving lucrative financial support from the government through the ministry of finance, he said they're annually setting aside at least 40 percent of its internal income for supporting implementation of diverse development projects.

“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for the invaluable assistance we keep on receiving from the ministry of finance which has enabled our institution to undertake numerous development projects,” he said.

Apart from launching the 1.9bn/- worth structure which sits at the college’s 40-acres campus in Miyuji area, Prof. Mayaya said there are a number of projects that are going on in the area, these, according to him including phase three of construction of female hostel, fencing of the Miyuji campus, together with erection of academic block and sports grounds.

“This building we’re launching today comprises a  seminar hall with capacity to shelter over 400 students at ago, two class rooms with capacity to harbour over 500 students, bringing the structure's full accommodation capacity to 900 students,” he detailed.

On his side, speaking when officiating the launch ceremony of the structure, Dr. Charles Mwamwaja, the Commissioner of Financial Sector Development in the ministry of finance hailed the IRDP for implementing the project.

Together with that, Dr. Mwamwaja got the opportunity to inspect the new structure as well as the diverse academic and human facilities that have been installed.

He expressed to have been satisfied with the speed and high standards in the implementation  of the project, urged the institute which operates under the shadow of the finance ministry to continue expanding its academic structures and academic footholds.

The Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) is a corporate body established by the Parliamentary Act No. 8 of 1980.

This Act provides a legal framework for the Institute to be established as an important national centre for provision of training, research and consultancy services in the field of rural development planning and management with main objective of alleviating qualitative and quantitative shortage of skilled manpower within the framework of sustainable capacity building directed towards reducing poverty and attaining sustainable development

IRDP strives to enhance and strengthen capacity for rural development practitioners by providing post-secondary education and training, research and consultancy services.