Kabale University on the road to success

By Arthur Baguma

Inaugurated in 2001, Kabale University stands on a hill commanding a magnificent view. Most of the structures at the campus are of colonial nature, but still in sound shape. Currently the student population is still low and the facilities are under-utilised.

The university was founded to fill the education gap in south-western Uganda . The university's immediate mandate is to serve the people of Kigezi, which comprises Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro and Rukungiri districts.

Legal status

The university is licensed and gazetted by the National Council of Higher Education and has embarked on academic programmes that respond to the needs of the region, while taking into account the requirements of a global knowledge-based society. Studies in Environmental Sciences, Land use Management, Languages, Development Studies, Science and Technology-related programmes are identified as key to this region.

Location

Kabale University is located on Kikungiri hill, one kilometre off the Katuna-Kigali highway within Kabale Municipality . It is approximately 420kms from Makerere University and 150kms from Mbarara University . Kabale is strategically located at junctions to Rwanda , Burundi and the DRC.

QUIET: The main gate to Kabale University.

Land

The university owns 52 hectares of land at Kikungiri hill. The land was donated by Kabale district local government. James Musinguzi Garuga, a prominent businessman in Kampala offered the university 400 acres in Kanungu district.

Infrastructure

- The university owns over 30 buildings of strong colonial architecture.

- Telephone line and Internet are in place

- It has many access roads, including the highway to Rwanda and the DRC

- An airstrip is within the vicinity of the campus in Kisoro—just 80km from Kabale town.

- The university inherited a local government residential and administrative site, including a former hostel and training building, council halls and other buildings.

- Some of the units have been renovated and adapted to teaching and learning environment.

- Others are being renovated to suit university service delivery.

At the moment, there is more infrastructure than the current student population can utilise.

Library facilities

- The library was renovated with funds from Mukombe family.

- A stock of 13,845 books has been acquired, including recent titles by acknowledged scholars.

- Arrangements are underway to reinforce the existing stock of books with recent publications and increasing the reading space.

Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, chairperson of the

university's Assembly of Promoters (right), installing

the University first chancellor, Prof. George Kanyeihamba,

during the university inaugural graduation last year

Strategic plan

The major objective of the university is to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kigezi region, the Great Lakes region and beyond, through accessible training, research, decentralised service delivery using participatory and inclusive approaches and methodologies.

Academic programmes for 2007/08

Bachelors:

- Arts with Education

- Education

- Arts in Economics

- Social work and Social Administration

- Business Administration

- Public Administration and Management

- Library and Information Science

- Computer Science

- Information Technology

- Land use Planning and Management

- Tourism Management

- Environmental Sciences

Diplomas:

- Computer Science

- Information Technology

- Education in Primary Education and Secondary Education

- Social Work and Social Administration

- Business Administration and Management

- Records Management

- Public Administration and Management

- Health Management

- French

- Swahili

- Counselling

All diploma courses cost sh300,000 and $170 per semester for Ugandans and Non-Ugandans, respectively. Certificate courses are also offered.

Entry requirement

Direct entry through A'Level and mature age entry

Academic staff

Seven members are permanent while eight are part-time. Two are PhD holders, seven have masters degrees while six have Bachelors degrees.

Administration

Chancellor: Prof. Joy Kwesiga

Chairperson: Prof. James Tumwine

Council University : Rev. James Karibwije

Kabale University

P.O Box 317, Kabale

E-mail: kabaleuni@utlonline.co.ug