Historically, the quest for a public university in West Nile can be traced back to the 1970s when initial attempts by government to establish a public university in the region were hindered by the country's turbulent past wars. The desire for a government supported university in the West Nile region continued to be expressed in various fora, both within and outside the region.

On 11th January 2007, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda met with a delegation of elders from the West Nile Region at his country home in Rwakitura, and the issue of a Public University in the region was brought to his attention in the memorandum presented to him. The President appreciated the request for a public University for the West Nile region and gave a go-ahead for the idea. He advised and tasked the leaders from the region to decide on good professional courses to be pursued at this institution of higher learning. The President's positive gesture towards a university establishment in the West Nile region was followed by a number of consultative meetings held in Arua and in Kampala.