Today, we are delighted to launch St. Ignatius University Kabale (IGUKA), just five days shy of a year since obtaining our provisional license and eight months since enrolling our first students. This momentous occasion holds great significance for the people of Kigezi and our country, as a new baby is added to the list of partners dedicated to societal transformation through hands-on training and research.
We give thanks to God for the blessings bestowed upon Kabale Diocese, whose vision and efforts have brought about the establishment of this university. These blessings build upon the Diocese’s longstanding commitment to educating generations at various educational levels. IGUKA is founded on a shared vision that unites the people of Kigezi: the determination to transform lives, alleviate poverty, and address social exclusion.
This shared vision builds the mission of tackling the challenges faced by a population heavily reliant on subsistence farming, marked by poor practices, land fragmentation, depleted soils, and reduced crop yields. This shared vision tasks the university to anchor its activities on educational programs and research initiatives focused on sustainable agriculture, value addition and industrialization among many other things.
To fulfill this task, aimed at improving societal livelihoods, IGUKA will a leader in problem-solving education in addition to placing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in driving socio-economic transformation. We will address complex societal issues and equip students with a broad range of professional competencies. I congratulate our students who in this short time have begun to show changes in in what used to be taken for granted practices. Research in hydroponic and aquaponics farming which IGUKA is now taking as the future of agriculture in this region and urban is already on going. This is practically emphasizing that graduates of IGUKA will possess employable and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to solve global problems locally and position Africa as a solution provider rather than a consumer of solutions developed elsewhere.
The aforementioned shows that IGUKA is specifically established as a hands-on University, fostering an innovative environment essential for positive societal transformation. This strategy will positively change the trend in the country where we have a small fraction of employers contrasted with rising joblessness, a shrinking formal sector workforce due to lack skills relevant to available jobs, the increasing exportation of unskilled labor to Europe, America, Asia and Middle East and a population drowning year after year into deep in poverty. Meanwhile, the country continues to import finished products made from our exported raw materials.
To address these challenges, IGUKA offers vocational courses examined by the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) alongside University programs accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). By integrating these two educational pathways, IGUKA aims to provide vocational programs that equip graduates with practical skills grounded in real-life projects, effectively tackling societal issues.
This strategy, supported by all stakeholders, aligns with Government efforts and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto to advance industrial development and alleviate poverty. Through deep collaboration between communities and employers. Grounded in our commitment to enhancing skills we make a positive impact on human resource development, modernize the technical workforce, and contribute to industrialization and poverty alleviation.
I thank Kabale Diocese, today led by Rt. Rev. Callistus Rubaramira for constantly preaching against poverty in favour of self-reliance and social transformation. For promoting a money economy and financial literacy alongside the spiritual formation of the people of God. Apart from leading the thinking of this unique education the diocese has also generously supported the University with essential facilities to achieve this dream. Beyond support at the main campus by putting in the facilities that enabled us to begin, additional land for agricultural education has been allocated at Kitumba, along with a carpentry workshop for wood technology. These facilities will equip students with vital skills for industrialization in agribusiness, value addition, improved storage, and wood-related products.
The University is also going to strengthen its tourism programme by utilizing Diocesan property in the tourism sector. As such, IGUKA shall have access to hands-on training sites in Western Uganda’s key tourist areas and launching an IGUKA Tour Company shall further equip our students with practical skills required in the sector.
VICE CHANCELLOR’S REMARKS
The University Council, Management, and staff are therefore tasked with keeping pace with evolving employer demands while fostering connections with the private and public sectors. We aim to implement this mandate through innovative teaching approaches that emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving over rote learning. Our students will develop skills highly valued by businesses and social enterprises.
Finally, IGUKA as a new academic institution and an essential stakeholder in society, has a special role to play in the transformation of society. Being a privately funded institution, it needs connections, collaborations, partnerships and funding from individuals, companies, agencies, Government and the international community to support University’s teaching, learning, research and innovations.
IGUKA will be productive if each member of the University and the larger community works to support transformation of society and turning poverty-ridden families into self-sufficient families. It is through this that IGUKA can achieve her mission of nurturing “excellent academic and professional skills, ethical and spiritual attitude to effect holistic transformation of society”.
Rev. Fr. Assoc. Prof. Maximiano Ngabirano
Vice Chancellor, St. Ignatius University Kabale