PRESIDENT Kibaki will tomorrow preside over the giving of a charter to Great Lakes University in Kisumu. Speaking to The Star yesterday, Prof Jack Kamiruka who is overseeing the Friday's preparation said the ceremony will start at 9am.

He said the university has been operating with a letter of interim authority issued by the Commission for Higher Education since June 30, 2006.

"We are happy that the commission approved the award of charter to Great Lakes University in December last year and the official certification will take place tomorrow," said Prof Kamiruka.

He said the university has three faculties - Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development, Health Science and the faculty of arts and science.

He said the number of students is expected to double from 1,500 to 3,000 once the university gets the charter. The university currently has students enrolment from Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Tanzania.

In February Prime Minister Raila hosted Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at the institution during the launch of its Education Trust Fund. The ceremony will take place at the graduation square at Siriba campus.