Museveni, Aga Khan to Open New AKU Campus and Launch 101-Bed Hospital in Kampala
President Yoweri Museveni will today preside over the inauguration of the Aga Khan University (AKU) campus in Nakawa, marking a significant boost for Uganda’s higher education and healthcare sectors.
He will be joined by His Highness the Aga Khan in an event that also includes the groundbreaking of the Aga Khan University Hospital Kampala, a 101-bed facility expected to transform medical services in the country once complete in 2027.
AKU President Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin described the occasion as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision
“This is not just another building; it is the realisation of a shared vision that will foster impactful collaborations in education, research, and healthcare,” he said in a press statement, calling it a “powerful and meaningful step forward” for public-private partnerships championed by the late His Highness the Aga Khan IV and President Museveni.
The new campus, strategically situated opposite Nakawa Business Park, houses a seven-storey university centre, a nine-storey student residence, and the Nakawa Specialty Medical Centre.
It has capacity for 700 students, 100 faculty members, and 164 resident students. The first cohort for the Bachelor of Nursing Science degree begins classes this month.
Dr. Shahabuddin noted that the upcoming hospital would bring advanced specialist care closer to Ugandans, reducing the costly need for treatment abroad.
He also pointed out AKU’s long-standing role in capacity building, highlighting that more than 7,000 Ugandan educators have already benefitted from the university’s training and certificate programmes.
The event will be graced by First Lady Janet Museveni, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, and Prince Aly Muhammad. For the first time, AKU will livestream the proceedings globally via its digital platforms and Ismaili TV.
Currently, AKU runs four academic programmes in Uganda but has set its sights on expansion into education, media, and health sciences once it secures a charter from the National Council for Higher Education.
Meanwhile, the Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi is preparing to launch local courses tailored for Ugandan students.
