Kabale: Minister of Privatisation, Canon Matthew Rukikaire, has officially been installed as the Chancellor of Kabale University in a colorful ceremony held at the institution’s premises on Kikungiri Hill in Kabale Municipality.
The installation was presided over by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, represented by Vice President Maj. Jessica Alupo. During the ceremony, Vice President Alupo enrobed Canon Rukikaire with the ceremonial Chancellor’s gown and handed him the instruments of office, formally declaring him the duly installed Chancellor. He succeeds Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, who has since retired.
Following his installation, Canon Rukikaire took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Secrecy, pledging to serve the university with integrity and to uphold confidentiality in the execution of his duties.
In his maiden speech, Rukikaire outlined an ambitious vision to transform Kabale University into a hub for regional integration and socio-economic development. He emphasized the importance of higher education in addressing Uganda’s key challenges, including unemployment and political instability. He also reiterated his long-standing advocacy for regional integration, calling for stronger efforts toward building a people-centered East African federation.
Rukikaire highlighted the university’s strategic location in the Great Lakes region, noting its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi. He urged the institution to leverage this advantage by developing programs in science, technology, tourism, and management to harness the region’s natural resources and economic potential.
Kabale University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joy Constance Kwesiga, used the occasion to outline the institution’s pressing challenges. She revealed that the university is currently operating with only 25 percent of its required staffing levels, with a majority of lecturers serving on a part-time basis. Despite growing student enrollment, the staffing gap remains a major concern.
Prof. Kwesiga also cited inadequate infrastructure as a significant hurdle, noting that the university still operates from facilities inherited from the former Kabale District Local Government. These structures, she said, are small and unsuitable for modern academic work. She added that implementation of the university’s six-year master plan has stalled due to limited funding, including an unfulfilled presidential pledge of Shs 47 billion made in 2016.
She called on government and stakeholders to increase support for the university, particularly in addressing staffing shortages and infrastructure development, while reaffirming the institution’s commitment to delivering quality higher education.
In a message delivered during the ceremony, President Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting higher education institutions in expanding access, enhancing research, and strengthening collaboration with the private sector. He emphasized the need for universities to align their curricula with the demands of the job market and focus research on addressing national challenges in agriculture, health, environment, and technology.
Vice President Alupo also urged leaders and stakeholders in the Kigezi sub-region to support the university’s expansion efforts, particularly in acquiring land. She noted that while Kabale University has made significant academic progress, its growth has been constrained by unresolved land issues.
The installation of Canon Rukikaire marks a new chapter for Kabale University as it seeks to overcome its challenges and position itself as a key driver of regional development and integration.
