Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) new Rector Professor Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, who resumed the office in January this year has refurbished plans for the institution.
He went on to disclose that he wrote to the General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen on the needs of the university. The Rector says the General Secretary shared the needs of IUIU to all member countries of the OIC and the Turkish Government promised to bankroll the establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry at the university.
Professor Gyagenda says the new faculty will help to boost the financial stand of the institution. He gave an example of how endowments in American universities such as Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Engineering, and Emory help to support the operations of the institutions.
The Rector who assumed office in January 2021 following the departure of Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo to the OIC says he has plans to continue developing the university to greater heights.He says the university is determined to continue producing competent graduates that are able to social-economic challenges in their respective societies.
Professor Gyagenda who was Vice Rector In-Charge of Academic Affairs (AA) before becoming the Rector says the university will continue giving scholarships to the staff to do Masters and PhDs. He also says he will make sure that IUIU continues to be a research and community-based institution to continue solving challenges facing Uganda and other African countries.
He also says the Faculty of Engineering is starting soon at the Main Campus. The Rector says the university will establish a modern state of art hospital dedicated to improving and sustaining the health and well-being of Ugandan people , especially those who are poor and living in rural areas.
Professor Gyagenda has commended OIC founders who had an idea of having Islamic University in Anglophone African countries. Professor Gyagenda also has applauded the President of Uganda for allowing the university to start in 1988.
The IUIU Rector also hailed renowned Muslims such as late Al-Hajj Abubakar Kakyama Mayanja, late Dr. Ali Kirunda Kivejinja, and Dr. Sengendo who is the current OIC Assistant Secretary-General of Economic Affairs for contributing immensely to the existence of the university.
The Islamic University in Uganda was opened in the year 1988 by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) under a bilateral agreement between the Government of Uganda (GOU) and the OIC.In 1990, the Parliament of Uganda enacted a law, The Islamic University in Uganda Act (cap 131, Laws of Uganda), formally establishing the University in Uganda.
The University operates under the framework of this Act.The University opened on 10th February 1988 with 80 students and two degree programs. Currently, it offers 72 programs in 7 Faculties and has a student population of 10,000 coming from 21 different countries.
The University has so far graduated 25,000 students from various disciplines. The University has a centre for Postgraduate Studies and four campuses including the Main Campus
