Kabale University Set for Historic 11th Graduation Ceremony as Institution Marks 10 Years as a Public University

Kabale University is preparing to host its 11th Graduation Ceremony on Friday, 30th October 2026, at the Main Campus on Kikungiri Hill in Kabale Municipality. The ceremony marks a significant milestone as the University commemorates ten years since its transition from a private to a public university.

Held under the theme “Empowering Future-Ready Graduates for Innovation, Employment and National Transformation,” the ceremony will celebrate academic achievement, institutional growth and the University’s contribution to Uganda’s socioeconomic development.

The event is particularly significant as Kabale University prepares to graduate its largest-ever cohort of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduands, alongside other postgraduate, undergraduate and diploma graduands from various academic disciplines.

Established in 2002 with an initial enrolment of just 42 students, Kabale University has grown into an important institution of higher learning, contributing to teaching, research, innovation and community engagement.

The University’s transition to public university status in 2016 represented a defining moment in its institutional development, making it the first private university in Uganda to successfully transition into a public university.

Over the past decade, the University has strengthened its academic programmes, research capacity and community interventions, positioning itself as a key contributor to human capital development in Uganda and the wider Great Lakes Region.

A notable highlight of the 2026 graduating cohort is the University’s progress in promoting gender equity and widening access to higher education.

The University continues to register increased participation of female students in traditionally male-dominated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Female graduates are also represented in medical research, business leadership and public health, reflecting the University’s commitment to inclusive education and equal opportunities.

These achievements complement Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which emphasizes inclusive human capital development, innovation and economic transformation.

Kabale University’s 11th Graduation Ceremony highlights the institution’s continued commitment to producing professionals equipped to address Uganda’s development priorities.

The graduating cohort represents diverse academic disciplines that contribute directly to infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, education, digital transformation, agriculture, business and environmental sustainability.

According to the graduation figures highlighted in the University’s preparations:

• Faculty of Education (STEM Track): 279 graduates trained to strengthen science and mathematics education in secondary schools.
• Faculty of Engineering, Technology, Applied Design and Fine Art: 226 graduates across degree, postgraduate and technical diploma programmes, contributing to infrastructure and technological development.
• Kabale University School of Medicine (KABSOM): 215 graduates prepared to contribute to healthcare delivery, including medical doctors, clinical specialists, nurses, anaesthetists and environmental health professionals.

The Faculty of Computing, Library and Information Sciences will also present graduates equipped with skills in programming, information management and digital technologies, while the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences will contribute professionals trained in climate-resilient agriculture, crop science and environmental conservation.

Together, these disciplines support national priorities in digital transformation, healthcare, food security, industrialisation and sustainable development.

Beyond STEM disciplines, the University continues to produce graduates whose expertise is essential to public administration, education, entrepreneurship, tourism and institutional development.

The Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences will graduate 367 students across programmes related to business administration, research, logistics and management.

The Faculty of Education (Humanities Track) will present 230 graduates trained to strengthen the teaching of languages, humanities and social sciences.

Meanwhile, the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality will graduate 114 professionals equipped with knowledge and practical skills to contribute to Uganda’s tourism and hospitality industry.

This diversity demonstrates the University’s commitment to developing a balanced workforce capable of supporting economic growth and effective service delivery.

The 11th Graduation Ceremony will also mark an important leadership transition in Kabale University’s history.

For the first time, the ceremony will be presided over by the University’s new Chancellor, Hon. Canon Mathew Rukikaire.

It will also be the first graduation ceremony following the transition from the long-serving Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joy C. Kwesiga, to Prof. Johnny Mugisha, the Acting Vice Chancellor.

These leadership developments coincide with the University’s celebration of a decade as a public institution and the beginning of a new chapter in its continued growth.

The 11th Graduation Ceremony represents both the culmination of years of academic dedication and the beginning of new professional opportunities for the Class of 2026.

As Kabale University celebrates this milestone, it reaffirms its commitment to producing competent, innovative and socially responsible graduates capable of contributing to national and regional transformation.

The ceremony will take place on Friday, 30th October 2026, at the Kabale University Main Campus, Kikungiri Hill, Kabale Municipality.

Members of the University community, parents, guardians, alumni and the general public who cannot attend physically will be able to follow the proceedings through the Kabale University Official YouTube Channel.

For additional information, visit the 11th Graduation Ceremony Event Page and the Kabale University Noticeboard.

Kabale University congratulates the Class of 2026 and looks forward to celebrating their academic achievements during this historic graduation ceremony.