The Aga Khan University (AKU) today inaugurated the first academic facilities and student residences of its new 60-acre campus in Kampala, Uganda. The ceremony, which also marked the start of construction of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala was presided over by its Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, and President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The project is among the largest investments AKU has made in East Africa to date.
Also in attendance were First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Honourable Janet Kataaha Museveni, AKU Pro-Chancellor Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan and Deputy German Ambassador to Uganda Peter Primus.
"I'm very happy to be here with Mama Janet Museveni and with His Highness to commission this University Centre," President Museveni said. “We're also happy about the groundbreaking of the Hospital, which will also help in healthcare."
The land for the campus and hospital was generously provided by the Government of Uganda. Funding for construction was provided by the University's Chancellor, , generous donors and the Government of Germany's BMZ and KfW.
“At this campus, AKU will invest in developing the potential of Ugandans," His Highness the Aga Khan said. “My hope is that ambitious young people and skilled professionals will not need to leave their home country to study or practice at the highest level. And many Ugandans will not have to travel abroad to obtain advanced health care."
Designed by the renowned Mexican architecture firm Legorreta and located in the central Nakawa area of Kampala, the campus features a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building and a four-storey ambulatory care building, the Nakawa Specialty Centre. At full capacity, the campus will be home to 100 faculty and 700 students, 164 of whom will be living full-time in the new student housing building.
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala will enable Ugandans to receive international-quality care in two dozen specialties, ranging from family medicine to cardiology. The hospital will form part of the Aga Khan Development Network's integrated health system in East Africa, which currently encompasses five hospitals and more than 100 outreach centres and serves nearly 2 million patients annually.
“With these academic, residential and clinical foundations, we will expand our School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala, building on more than two decades of work and 1,500 Ugandan graduates," said Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, AKU Vice Chancellor and President. “For the first time in Uganda, AKU will also train physicians and launch postgraduate medical education in many needed fields such as surgery, cardiology and others."
The ceremony also included a very special moment in which His Highness the Aga Khan was conferred with the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master), Uganda's highest civilian honour, by President Museveni. The decoration recognises His Highness's distinguished services to the nation and his leadership in advancing social and economic development. Princess Zahra Aga Khan was honoured with the Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Commander) in recognition of her long-standing contributions to health, education and women's empowerment.
The Aga Khan University (AKU) today inaugurated the first academic facilities and student residences of its new 60-acre campus in Kampala, Uganda. The ceremony, which also marked the start of construction of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala was presided over by its Chancellor, His Highness the Aga Khan, and President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The project is among the largest investments AKU has made in East Africa to date.
Also in attendance were First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Honourable Janet Kataaha Museveni, AKU Pro-Chancellor Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan and Deputy German Ambassador to Uganda Peter Primus.
"I'm very happy to be here with Mama Janet Museveni and with His Highness to commission this University Centre," President Museveni said. “We're also happy about the groundbreaking of the Hospital, which will also help in healthcare."
The land for the campus and hospital was generously provided by the Government of Uganda. Funding for construction was provided by the University's Chancellor, , generous donors and the Government of Germany's BMZ and KfW.
“At this campus, AKU will invest in developing the potential of Ugandans," His Highness the Aga Khan said. “My hope is that ambitious young people and skilled professionals will not need to leave their home country to study or practice at the highest level. And many Ugandans will not have to travel abroad to obtain advanced health care."
Designed by the renowned Mexican architecture firm Legorreta and located in the central Nakawa area of Kampala, the campus features a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building and a four-storey ambulatory care building, the Nakawa Specialty Centre. At full capacity, the campus will be home to 100 faculty and 700 students, 164 of whom will be living full-time in the new student housing building.
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala will enable Ugandans to receive international-quality care in two dozen specialties, ranging from family medicine to cardiology. The hospital will form part of the Aga Khan Development Network's integrated health system in East Africa, which currently encompasses five hospitals and more than 100 outreach centres and serves nearly 2 million patients annually.
“With these academic, residential and clinical foundations, we will expand our School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala, building on more than two decades of work and 1,500 Ugandan graduates," said Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, AKU Vice Chancellor and President. “For the first time in Uganda, AKU will also train physicians and launch postgraduate medical education in many needed fields such as surgery, cardiology and others."
The ceremony also included a very special moment in which His Highness the Aga Khan was conferred with the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master), Uganda's highest civilian honour, by President Museveni. The decoration recognises His Highness's distinguished services to the nation and his leadership in advancing social and economic development. Princess Zahra Aga Khan was honoured with the Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Commander) in recognition of her long-standing contributions to health, education and women's empowerment.