By Shivan Ayebare.
Kabale University has awarded 1,673 degrees, diplomas, and certificates during its 10th Graduation Ceremony held at the university’s main campus in Kabale Municipality.
Graduates included 7 PhDs, 151 Master’s Degrees, 41 Postgraduate Diplomas, 1,005 Bachelor’s Degrees, 319 Undergraduate Diplomas, and 150 Certificates, highlighting the university’s growing contribution to education and national development.
Adison Kakuru, Chairperson of the University Council, commended the institution’s progress and reaffirmed its focus on academic excellence, research, and innovation.
He noted that Kabale University now has over 7,000 students but faces challenges of limited land and space for expansion. He appealed to the Kabale District Local Government to allocate more land to support infrastructure development under the university’s master plan.
Kakuru also outlined several institutional developments, including new policies such as the Intellectual Property Policy, Policy for Students with Disabilities, and the Risk Management Policy, aimed at improving governance and inclusivity.
On infrastructure, he announced the ongoing construction of a four-storied Engineering Department block at the Nyabikoni campus and the completion of an Irish Potato Value Addition Unit, which will soon be commissioned to boost research and innovation in the agricultural sector.
Kabale University’s profile continues to rise regionally and nationally. Its Medical School recently won the African Inter-University Medical Quiz Competition, and the institution currently ranks sixth among Ugandan universities.
Hon. Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), congratulated the graduates and urged them to become innovators and job creators. He encouraged them to explore opportunities in the ATMS priority sectors Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Mineral-based industrial development, and Science, Technology, and Innovation which he said are central to Uganda’s economic growth.
Hon. Musasizi also revealed that the Government of Uganda will fully implement free Universal Primary Education (UPE) in the next term of government. He said President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to ensure that no child is left out of school due to financial challenges.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, expressed concern over declining school completion rates, noting that out of 1.45 million children born annually, only about 817,930 are expected to sit for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
She urged parents and community leaders to support UPE and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs to ensure that every child completes their studies. Dr. Turyagyenda also encouraged graduates to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation as key drivers of job creation and industrial growth.
