By James Wakahiu
The Government of Rwanda has granted Mount Kenya University
Rwanda (MKUR) full accreditation to operate as a fully-fledged
university.
The accredited institution will now rebrand to Mount Kigali University
(MKU) according to a communique from the Office of the Prime
Minister of Rwanda. The communique details several orders made by a
Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on April 20, 2023.
Among others, the Cabinet approved the “ministerial order granting
accreditation and legal personality to Mount Kigali University.”
Mt Kigali University Vice-Chancellor designate, Prof Edwin Odhuno,
thanked the government of Rwanda for granting the university the new
status. “We are extremely grateful to the Ministry of Education for this
recognition,” said Prof Odhuno upon learning of the news.
“As an institution, we are happy with this achievement and will work even
harder to expand access to higher education,” he added.
The VC designate said the accreditation is an exciting, yet challenging
development because it means the university has the responsibility of
delivering much more in teaching, research and community outreach.
The college has 6,000 students currently. “To whom so much has been
given, so much is expected from,” he noted.
The VC designate said he was confident that the MKU Chairman, Board
of Directors, Prof. Simon Gicharu, will continue supporting the new
institution so that it can attain greater heights of success. “We have
seen how his support over the last 13 years has raised the profile of this
campus through prudent investment in infrastructure, equipment and
personnel. We are sure he will walk with us on the journey to a bright
future for Mount Kigali University,” said Prof Odhuno.
Mount Kigali University becomes the first ever cross-border campus in
Rwanda to attain this status. Damalie Tumushime, a current student at
the university, said it was a privilege to witness history unfolding. “I
enrolled at MKUR and had no idea that it would transform into a fully-
fledged university operating from this campus. Team work has been key
to this development,” she said.
Another student, Ronald Nkusi, said he was delighted with this new
development and looks forward to graduating in Rwanda, rather than
travelling to MKU’s main campus in Thika, Kenya.
MKUR offers a wide range of academic and professional courses
through various flexible modes that include online, face-to-face, day
and weekend and institutional based learning (school-based). The
institution launched its memoir earlier this year. The book, titled
Mountain meets Land of 1,000 Hill traces MKUR’s journey into
Rwanda.
The university boasts of leaders in government, private sector and civil
society organizations as among its alumni. The book also details its
infrastructural developments such as the upcoming Kigali Paramount
Hotel, primed to be a regional center of excellence for hospitality and
tourism training.
Also captured by the book are corporate social responsibility (CSR)
activities such as participation in Umuganda, and empowering the girl-
child academically through partnering with Imbuto Foundation, as well
as infrastructural developments, among other investments.
During the launch, MKUR renewed a partnership with Imbuto
Foundation to offer support to students from humble backgrounds in
accessing Higher Education. During the event MKU committed a donation of Rwf 36,750,000 (about Ksh4.5 million) to the Foundation over the five-year duration of the renewed MoU.
