By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Aga Khan University (AKU) has pledged to expand access to international-quality health care and higher education in Uganda, as it continues to strengthen its footprint in East Africa’s health and education sectors.
Speaking during the university’s 4th graduation ceremony, AKU Vice Chancellor, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, said the institution is committed to ensuring Ugandans receive quality medical services within the country while nurturing professionals capable of driving community transformation.
“We will enable Ugandans to obtain international-quality health care close to home; prepare talented women and men to lead change in their communities and professions; and support research that improves health and education across the country,” Shahabuddin said.
A total of 114 nurses, teachers, media professionals, and physicians graduated at AKU’s 4th graduation ceremony, held today (February 7) at the university’s Kampala campus in Nakawa. Among the graduates was Gilbert Biryahwaho, a visually impaired teacher at Masaka School for the Deaf, who graduated with a Master of Education degree.
Shahabuddin emphasized that the university is working towards making its academic programmes and hospital services accessible to people from disadvantaged backgrounds through financial assistance for both students and patients.
He noted that the Kampala campus and hospital will play a key role in strengthening the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) expanding health and education systems across East Africa. He said the network currently provides medical care to nearly two million patients annually and educates over 10,000 students through AKU and Aga Khan Schools.
“As this campus fills up, those numbers will grow substantially,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the university’s recent academic growth, revealing that AKU has introduced 18 new degree programmes across its global campuses over the last five years, raising total student enrolment to more than 4,000 for the first time in its history.
Shahabuddin urged them to prioritise service and integrity in their careers.
“You have learned much at this University. Now it is up to you to put your education to work, to choose purpose over ease, service over self, and integrity over advantage,” he said.
The university’s Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, also commended the graduates, saying AKU and its alumni hold both great responsibility and opportunity to generate knowledge that improves lives.
“AKU and its alumni carry both an extraordinary responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity: to create, to disseminate, and to apply knowledge in ways that improve the quality of human life,” he said in his message.
The ceremony was presided over by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who was installed as AKU Pro-Chancellor on January 17, 2026.
During the event, the university commended the Government of Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni for supporting the development of the campus, noting that such partnerships help accelerate national progress.
“When I look at the Class of 2025, I see individuals who are ready to meet the challenges Uganda faces, ethically grounded and prepared to lead with humility and care,” Shahabuddin said. “Uganda’s future will be shaped not only by policies and capital, but by professionals who serve with integrity and competence.”
Representing the graduates, Dorcus Naluyima praised the university’s blended learning model, which she says it has enabled many students to balance employment with academic advancement.
“The programme’s diverse teaching methods enhanced our professional growth, strengthened our leadership and research skills and enabled us to implement change within the nursing profession,” she said.
Naluyima said graduates are prepared to confront challenges such as weak health systems and patients facing financial constraints, urging her colleagues to remain resilient and uphold integrity in service delivery.
“The true measure of your success will not be in the degrees that you hold, but in the lives that you touch, the care you provide and the compassion that you show,” she said.
She also commended the university for extending financial support to students and preserving the legacy of its founding Chancellor, Prince Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, who died on February 4, 2025.
“You have challenged us to think critically, to dream big, to be flexible and to believe in ourselves. I urge all graduands to make a positive impact in the world, advocate for their rights and pursue further education and research. May the legacy of our late founder continue to inspire us to strive for excellence,” Naluyima said.
