Mount Kenya University’s offshoot, Mount Kigali University in Rwanda, is now a full-fledged university after it officially received the instruments of power – Mace, Seal, Internal University Statutes and the Communique from the Government of Rwanda – on Saturday, September 16.
This comes months after the university, previously a campus of Mount Kenya University (MKU), was granted full accreditation to operate as Mount Kigali University on April 20, 2023 after an elaborate process that lasted more than 5 years.
In the hand-over ceremony held at the University in Gatenga sector, Kigali, founder and Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu handed over the Instruments to Mount Kigali University Chancellor Prof. Stanley Waudo who in turn handed them over to Dr. Innocent Mugisha, the Chairman of university Governing Body (Council). Dr. Mugisha then handed over the Instruments to Vice Chancellor Dr. Martin Kimemia.
“This is a culmination of tireless efforts by the Board, Council, University Management and support from our students and their parents and guardians,” said Prof. Gicharu, MKU founder and renowned educationist.
The entry of MKU into Rwanda was enabled by Annexure 12 of the East African Community Common Market Protocol which allowed the mutual recognition of academic qualifications.
“This is the first time that an institution has started as a campus and graduated into a fully-fledged university in Rwanda. Many have tried but failed,” Dr. Mugisha said.
She said that Mount Kigali University is now a member of the Inter-University Council of East Africa and has continued with this momentum to embrace the internationalization of education.
The internationalization drive has also seen the university recruit international faculty, students and benchmark against some of the best universities in the world.
Besides top Mount Kigali University administrators, others who attended the event were Imbuto Foundation’s Ms. Mireille Musaniwabo and Kagabo Innocent the Registrar of the National Council of Nurses and Midwives.
Kagabo described Mount Kigali University as an indispensable partner in the training of nurses.
“This remarkable institution has changed the course of our lives. We are proud to be beneficiaries of Prof. Gicharu’s vision,” said Roseanne Muregwa, an alumnus.
Mount Kigali University Vice Chancellor Dr. Martin Kimemia said that the institution is determined to shape its own destiny and to provide a nurturing environment where intellectual curiosity will flourish in addition to state-of-the-art infrastructure for curricular and co-curricular activities.
He noted that the university is constructing the Kigali Paramount Hotel in the area to offer practical training for its students from the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management in addition to a University Medical Centre where its staff, students, alumni and community will receive medical services.
“We have also invested about 200 million Rwandan Francs (est. KSh20million) to buy dental equipment in preparation to roll out Dentistry courses,” said Prof. Gicharu.
During the event, Dr. Kimemia received an accreditation certificate from the International Human Resource Certification Institute, enabling Mount Kigali University to start giving certification to Human Resource professionals.
“With the autonomy and receipt of Instruments of Power, students from Mount Kigali University will now be graduating right here in Rwanda. I am looking forward to that day when our graduands will celebrate their academic milestones in the presence of their parents, guardians, friends and siblings,” he said.
The colourful ceremony was lit up by entertainment from the Rwanda Cultural Troupe who performed the famous Intore dance.
By Our Reporter
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