Kabale University’s formation dates back to 1995, when the idea was born under the umbrella of the Kigezi Development Association. In 1990, Kabale District Local Government donated fifty-three (53) acres of land in Kabale Municipality for the development of the university at Kikungiri Hill and Nyabikoni. In the same year, an application to operate Kabale university as a center of higher learning was submitted to the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Initially, the university was established as a not-for-profit community institution, owned by the people of Kigezi. The university opened its gates in 2002 to forty-two (42) students and has since grown to have an enrollment of about 6,000 students from all parts of Uganda and the neighboring countries.
In 2014, Kabale university obtained a charter, marking the last stage of accreditation by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education. In 2015, the university was transformed from a private to a public university under statutory instrument No. 36, under the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (as amended). Kabale University is therefore a unique institution in Uganda, enjoying the status of being the first institution of its kind to transform from private to public.
Kabale University is located on plot 364, Block 3 Kikungiri Hill, in Kabale Municipality, about a kilometer off Kabale – Kigali Highway. The main campus sits on 50 acres of land. The University can be accessed via Mukombe Road, which connects the Kikungiri campus to the Highway. An additional campus is located on plots 66-76 in Nyabikoni parish in the Central Division of Kabale Municipality.
Motto: “Knowledge is the future”
Vision:” A sustainable, vibrant university of academic excellence in the Great Lakes Region and beyond.”
Mission: “To be an efficient and effective university that excels in teaching, learning, research, innovation, and community engagement”
Mandate: “Learning, Research and community engagement “
Core values:
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Diversity
- lifelong learning
- Academic freedom
- Collegiality
- Community Orientation
Its Goal:” Provide marketable and quality graduates that provide relevant professional services to society.”
The strategic objectives of Kabale University include;
- To strengthen governance, management and support systems and services
- To attract, develop and retain competent and motivated human resources
- To ensure adequate infrastructure and facilities
- To produce knowledgeable, skilled graduates with a strong emphasis on STEM/STEL programs
- To strengthen the research, innovation and publications capacity of the university
- To diversify and improve financial resource mobilization and resource management systems
Strategic pillars of KAB include;
- Governance, management and administrative systems
- Developing Human Resource capacity
- Infrastructure and Facilities
- Programme delivery and Student Services
- Research, Innovation and Publication
- Diversification of financial resources
Administrative structure
The following units constitute the administrative arm of the university:
- The vice Chancellor’s office (including the DVC (F&A), DVC (A&A)
- University Secretary
- Academic Registrar
- Dean of Students’
- Library
- Estates and works department
- Directorate of Human Resources
- Finance department
- Directorate of ICT and services
- University Health Services
- Communication, Branding, and Marketing department
University Council
The university council is the supreme governing body of a university. It’s responsible for the overall administration of the university and ensuring the effective implementation of the university’s objectives and functions. The council functions through committees and (1) board, namely:
- Appointments Board
- Resource Mobilization Committee
- Estates and works Committee
- Students Affairs and disciplinary committee
- Audit and Risk management committee
- University Staff Tribunal
University Senate: The University Senate is a formal governing body within the university, responsible for the organization, control, and direction of the academic matters of the university. KAB senate is in charge of the teaching, research, and the general standards of education and research and their assessment at the university.
Top management of the university consists of the following officers
Estates and works Committee
- Students Affairs and disciplinary committee
- Audit and Risk management committee
- University Staff Tribunal
University Senate: The University Senate is a formal governing body within the university, responsible for the organization, control, and direction of the academic matters of the university. KAB senate is in charge of the teaching, research, and the general standards of education and research and their assessment at the university.