Issue 312

By Ayaanle Mohamed Omar

Part I

Introduction

My aim of writing this article is to encourage the students who are willing to study in Uganda, both either under graduate and postgraduate, and also to give a brief background on the Ugandan leading universities especially the historical background; admission requirements, major faculties, schools, and institutes; students and accommodation among others. I have also given contact address of each university so that you can easily contact any university that you wish either by phone or email.

Uganda at Glance

The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, Uganda has access to several large water bodies, including Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga and Lake Edward . Uganda is bordered on the east by Kenya, the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania.

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizeable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. The country is largely untapped reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.

Although English and Swahili are used as national languages however some of the local languages are widely spoken in which may include: Luganda, Lusoga, and Runyankore.

Uganda has a population of 27 million of whom 78% of them are Christians; 16% are Muslims; 1% Traditional Religions and 0.7 % are Hindus.

In what way Uganda Education system is different compared to us ( Somaliland). ?

The system of education in Uganda has a structure of 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education (divided into 4 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary school), and 3 to 5 years of post-secondary education compared to ours which is 8 years of primary and 4 years of secondary.

In other words for those countries who have taken the system of 4:4:4 i.e 8 years of primary and 4 years of secondary has an O’level Education System compared to those who have taken the system of 7:4:4 i.e 7 years of primary, 4 years of secondary, and 2 years of upper secondary school i.e Advanced Level or A’level in short.

Getting admission from Ugandan universities?

In general, Uganda universities admit the foreign students who are seeking higher education in Uganda provided that he/she has fulfilled the admission requirement’s of the university. Some of these admission requirements may include:

At least an "O" level Certificate or and equivalent qualification (secured at the same sitting) and
At least two principle passes at "A" level or an equivalent qualification (secured at the same sitting)
Applicants should note that to be eligible for admission, the last examination must have been sat during the year in which admission is being sought or not more than two years previously.
At its discretion and on the advise of the Academic Unit concerned, the University may consider for admission to a degree Programme a candidate with only "O" Level qualifications provided that he/she has been registered at another University (prior to applying), for a Degree Programme and has successfully completed at least one year of University education. They must however submit the University transcript(s).
Those students who have only O’level certificate must go through Access Program whose period ranges from 6 month to years depending the university.
Those students who are having diploma from the recognised institution will be directly admitted to the degree program if the candidate selects relevant course.
For Master degree, a good degree with minimum GPA of 3.6 and above from a recognized institution is required.

Universities in Uganda

Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU).

Background

The university is strongly based on the teachings of Islam in which all students both Muslims and non-Muslims have to fulfill. The university was started on the premises of Nkoma Secondary School, opening doors to students on February 10, 1988 with 80 students. It is a private international university established by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The University is home to over 2400 students. Some students come from neighboring countries including Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and so many other counties outside the Eastern Africa.

Location
IUIU has two campuses. The main campus is at Nkoma, 2km from Mbale town on Kumi Road. The Kampala campus is at Kibuli PTC. There is also an external centre at Lira Town College, Lira for Bachelor of Education (External) and Diploma in Primary Education.

Accommodation

All girls sleep on the campus. Some 1,000 boys are also on-campus residents, but other males rent private apartments in the neighborhood of the university.

Faculties

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Fac. of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Management studies

Contact:
The Academic Registrar
IUIU Mbale Campus,
P.O Box 2555 Mbale - UGANDA
Tel: +256 35 512100
Fax: +256 (0)45 33502/34452
E-mail: iuiumbalecampus@yahoo.com
Website: www.iuiu-Mbale.com

Makerere University

Ayaanle Mohamed Omar

KIU, Kamapala, Uganda

Ayanle97@hotmail.com