President Museveni is expected to join Prince Rahim Al-Hussainy, Aga Khan V today to officially inaugurate the new Aga Khan University (AKU) campus in Nakawa, Kampala a milestone in advancing higher education and healthcare in Uganda and the wider East African region.
The event will also feature groundbreaking of the Aga Khan University Hospital Kampala, a 101-bed state-of-the-art facility expected to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Uganda when completed in 2027.
“This is not just another building; it is the realisation of a shared vision that will foster impactful collaborations in education, research, and healthcare,” AKU president Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin said in a press statement.
He described the milestone as a “powerful and meaningful step forward” in advancing public-private partnerships envisioned by the late His Highness the Aga Khan IV and President Museveni.
The new campus, located opposite the Nakawa Business Park, features a seven-storey university centre, a nine-storey student residence, and the Nakawa Specialty Medical Centre.
Once fully operational, the university will accommodate 700 students, 100 faculty, and 164 resident students.
The first intake for the four-year Bachelor of Nursing Science programme is scheduled for this month.
Dr. Shahabuddin emphasized that the new hospital will provide advanced specialist care, reducing the need for Ugandans to travel abroad for treatment.
He also highlighted AKU’s contribution to professional development in Uganda, noting that “over 7,000 Ugandan educators have already benefited from the university’s training and certificate programmes” through its alumni network.
The opening ceremony will be attended by First Lady Janet Museveni, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, and Prince Aly Muhammad.
For the first time, the event will be livestreamed globally via AKU’s digital platforms and Ismaili TV.
Currently, AKU offers four academic programmes, with plans to expand into education, media, and health sciences once it secures a charter from the National Council for Higher Education.
The Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi is also preparing to launch programs for Ugandan students locally.
