In a landmark event for regional healthcare and gender equity, the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Nursing School building at its Female Campus in Kabojja on Wednesday. The project, fully funded by the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), marks a significant expansion of the only dedicated female higher education campus in the region.
A Legacy Reclaimed
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking diplomats and university officials who framed the opening as a historic restoration of women’s role in academia. Ambassador Nusura Tiperu, Uganda’s envoy to Türkiye and Chair of the university’s Estates Planning Committee, described the inauguration as “correcting a historical wrong”. She drew parallels to ancient African educational traditions, noting that the rebuilding of such infrastructure reclaimed a legacy of female leadership in higher education that had been absent in the region for centuries.
Expanding Healthcare Capacity
The new three-storey facility was constructed with a US $130,000 grant from the ISF. Designed to meet both local and global demands for skilled medical professionals, the building features Modern Lecture Halls, Advanced Skills Laboratories, Computer Rooms.
Dr. Nabukeera Madinah, Director of the Female Campus, highlighted the transformative nature of the investment. “Our students were learning under tents,” she remarked, noting that the new infrastructure would raise the quality of nursing education and significantly increase enrollment. In recognition of her leadership, it was proposed that the new building be named “Madina Hall”.
International Cooperation and Development
His Excellency Mr. Muhammad Suleiman Aba Al-Khail, Executive Director of the ISF, underscored that while building infrastructure is vital, the ultimate goal is human development. This sentiment was echoed by H.E. MR. Aftab Ahmad Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC, who observed that IUIU has grown from 88 students at its inception to over 1,600 at the Kabojja campus alone. “When you educate a woman, you educate a nation,” Khokher stated.
Future Prospects
The Nursing School is set to enroll its first cohort of students in the 2026 academic year. Plans are already underway for a second phase to equip the facility, alongside broader ambitions for specialized nursing programs and a larger medical school. Ambassador Isaac Sebulime further announced that additional collaborations with the Islamic Development Bank are in the pipeline to continue the campus’s trajectory as a regional center of excellence.
