If you thought your university had big dreams, Kampala International University just raised the bar for every institution on the continent.
At its 33rd Graduation Ceremony held at the KIU Western Campus in Ishaka, Bushenyi, university leadership made a declaration that turned heads across academic circles — KIU is gunning to become one of Africa’s top ten universities within the next decade. Not a regional ranking. Not an East African milestone. Top ten. Continent-wide.
And if the numbers are anything to go by, this isn’t just motivational speech energy.
1,844 Graduates. 100 First Class. Over Half in STEM.
This year’s graduating class was no small feat. A total of 1,844 students crossed the stage, among them 100 First Class graduates. More striking was the composition of the class — 52.6% graduated from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, a figure that signals KIU’s deliberate alignment with Uganda’s industrialisation agenda.
The ceremony was held under the theme “Fostering Sustainable Innovations and Future-Ready Graduates through Competence-Based Education” and attracted government officials, diplomats, legislators, and development partners, with Second Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the day.
The VC’s Bold Promise
Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammed Ngoma didn’t shy away from the ambition.
“Our ambition is to be among the top 10 universities in Africa within the next ten years,” he told the gathering.
He backed the claim with substance. KIU currently sits as the leading private university in Uganda and the second-ranked overall in the country according to the 2026 Webometrics Rankings. The university’s research output has doubled over the past two years alone, and KIU today hosts students from more than 40 countries.
At the heart of KIU’s academic strategy is Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) — a shift the VC described not as mere policy compliance but as a philosophical commitment to producing graduates who can create jobs, innovate, and solve real problems.
“Our graduates must be competent, confident and competitive in the marketplace while possessing strong character,” Prof. Ngoma said, summarising the university’s four-pillar philosophy: Competence, Confidence, Character, and Competitiveness.
1,000 Scholarships a Year — And 100 PhD Slots
The announcement that may matter most to students came from Board of Trustees Chairperson Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba.
KIU is launching a scholarship programme targeting over 1,000 Ugandans annually, with a heavy focus on postgraduate education. That includes approximately 100 PhD slots per year, plus expanded opportunities for female scholars pursuing Master’s degrees.
“As a university, we are embarking on an ambitious programme to provide over 1,000 scholarships annually to Ugandans,” Dr. Basajjabalaba said.
He also revealed that KIU recorded more than 3,500 research publications this year, with close to half appearing in high-impact international journals — a figure that would be impressive for any research institution on the continent.
What’s Being Built Right Now
Beyond the rankings and rhetoric, KIU has a construction pipeline that reflects where the money is going. Currently underway are a four-storey pharmacy complex set to become one of the largest pharmacy facilities in East Africa, new staff housing blocks, student hostels, sports facilities, and a moot court for law students.
Further down the pipeline: a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, an aquaculture complex, and a precision dairy farming project being developed in partnership with international institutions.
The Takeaway for Campus Uganda
For students weighing options, or current KIU students wondering whether the hype is real — the trajectory is hard to ignore. Second-ranked university in Uganda. Doubled research output in two years. A scholarship programme opening 1,000 spots annually. Infrastructure expanding faster than most peers.
Whether KIU cracks Africa’s top ten by 2035 remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: they are not waiting to be discovered.
