A graphic impression of the Aga Khan University campus in Nakawa, Kampala
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Aga Khan Foundation has proved to be one of the most outstanding investors in Uganda’s education sector.
One of its outstanding fruits, the Aga Khan University campus in Nakawa, Kampala, is set to begin operations in June this year.
According to the university’s President, Sulaiman Shahabuddin, the campus will initially offer existing academic programs in Uganda, such as Nursing and Midwifery.
The Aga Khan University celebrated the start of construction of its new campus in Kampala at a ceremony attended by the First Lady of Uganda, Janet Museveni, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
AKU’s 60-acre campus is located along the New Port Bell Road and Jinja Road. It will feature in its first phase a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.
“The hospital will offer care in nearly two dozen specialties, ranging from family medicine to oncology,” reads part of the press release from the foundation.
It further says that the project represents one of AKU’s largest investments in East Africa to date.
Marching at the 2025 Aga Khan University graduation in Kampala
“This will enable a significant expansion of the University’s existing School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala and will also allow the University to begin training medical specialists in fields such as internal medicine and surgery,” it further reads.
The foundation further revealed that construction of the University Centre and student housing is currently underway.
“Construction of the hospital will start early next year. A four-story ambulatory care building will offer outpatient care in a wide range of specialties in advance of the hospital’s completion.”
Tribute to Aga Khan
Members of the Aga Khan University’s Class of 2024 in Uganda celebrated their graduation on February 20th, with Princess Zahra Aga Khan in attendance.
They wholeheartedly paid tribute to its late Founder and first Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, and welcomed his successor, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V.
At this year’s Convocation, the University marked a significant milestone in its history, as it awarded its 5,000th degree or diploma in East Africa.
It also looked forward to another milestone: Completion of the University’s Academic Centre and student residence in Kampala, which will occur later this year.
The facilities are part of AKU’s new 60-acre campus in Nakawa, which will also feature the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.
“Our founding Chancellor once said that the cornerstone of his vision was opportunity – the opportunity to build a better life for oneself and one’s family,” President Sulaiman Shahabuddin said.
He added that in Uganda and its neighbours, the late Aga Khan created opportunities for millions of people through the Aga Khan Development Network.
“Here at AKU, he gave our graduates an opportunity they have seized – to acquire new knowledge, new skills, and a new perspective on their capacity to lead change.”
The Aga Khan University Hospital in Kampala is up and running
Princess Zahra Aga Khan said that around the world, their alumni embody his aspiration for AKU graduates to be leaders and change agents who transform their professions, take on societal challenges and uplift humanity.
Among the 125 graduates were nurses, midwives, educators and journalists.
Valedictorian Caroline Imalingat informed the graduates that the true measure of their success will not be in the degree they hold, but in the lives they touch, the care they provide and the compassion they show.
Celebrants
Many University employees were celebrated for good service. These included Dr Caroline Namukwaya for the Outstanding Teacher Award, Dr John Baptist Asiimwe for the Faculty Research Award, and Cliff Aliga for the Public Service Award. Furthermore, Dr Mary Namuguzi and Dr Caroline Namukwaya were awarded Fellowships of the Higher Education Academy for meeting international teaching benchmarks.
Student award recipients included Suhamu Mutoni, Ronald Alidriga, and James Dralema for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Others included Racheal Kamakune, Allen Nantongo, and Justine Namutebi who were celebrated for the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery. Celebrated were also Margaret Nabateregga for the Diploma in General Nursing. Mugisha Simon Tumwine, who received the Academic Excellence award for the Master of Arts in Digital Journalism.
Academic center
The Aga Khan University’s Kampala campus will be a seven-storey Academic Centre and will house a range of degree programmes including medicine, nursing, journalism and educational development.
It will overlook the nine-storey student residence that will provide accommodation for 180 students when fully commissioned. These facilities will be followed soon by the start of construction on the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala.
The hospital will offer care ranging from family medicine to oncology. A four-storey ambulatory care building on the campus site, the Nakawa Specialty Centre. This is currently offering outpatient care in a wide range of specialties in advance of the hospital’s completion.
University milestones
The Aga Khan University was founded in Pakistan in 1983 by His Highness the Aga Khan IV, who served as its Chancellor until his passing on February 4, 2025.
Starting in 2000, we established additional campuses in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, followed by Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. AKU has 3,900 students globally, including 1,500 in East Africa, and has awarded 21,000 degrees, diplomas and postgraduate certificates to date, including 5,000 in East Africa.
The number of students attending AKU in East Africa has nearly tripled since 2018 and will continue to grow in the coming years.
