Kabale University (KAB) is a public institution in southwestern Uganda. Founded in 2001 by stakeholders in the Kigezi sub-region, it initially functioned as a private university. It was fully accredited in 2005 and later, in 2015, became the first private university in Uganda to be taken over by the government and converted into a public university.
The university’s mission is to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kigezi, Uganda, and the wider African region through accessible training, participatory research, and inclusive service delivery.
Location
KAB’s main campus sits on Kikungiri Hill, Kabale Municipality, about 409 km southwest of Kampala, Uganda’s capital. The land (52 hectares) was donated by the Kabale District Administration. The location places it strategically along the Kabale–Kigali Highway, making it accessible to both Ugandan and Rwandan students.
Academic Units
KAB is organized into several faculties, schools, and institutes:
- School of Medicine
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Computing, Library and Information Science
- Faculty of Engineering, Technology, Applied Design & Fine Art
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences
- Faculty of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
- Institute of Languages
- Institute of Tourism & Hospitality
- Faculty of Law
Academic Programs
Diploma Programs
Examples include:
- Diploma in Computer Science, IT, Primary & Secondary Education
- Diploma in Social Work & Social Administration
- Diploma in Business Administration & Management
- Diploma in Records & Medical Records Management
- Diploma in Public Administration, Health Management, French, Swahili, Counseling
- Postgraduate Diplomas (Education, Project Planning, HRM, Public Administration & Management)
Undergraduate Programs
Notable courses:
- Education & Social Sciences: Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Education, Social Work, Economics, Public Administration
- Business & Management: BBA, Agribusiness, Tourism Management
- Science & Technology: Computer Science, IT, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Environmental Health Sciences
- Engineering & Medicine: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Anesthesia & Critical Care, Medicine & Surgery (via School of Medicine)
Postgraduate Programs
- Master of Arts (Educational Management, Development Studies, HRM, Public Administration & Management)
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science (Environment & Natural Resources, Information Science, Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health, Educational Psychology)
- Master of Institutional Governance & Leadership
Doctoral Degrees (PhDs)
- PhD in Business Administration (by research/coursework & thesis)
- PhD in Public Administration & Management (by research/coursework & thesis)
- PhD in Education
Short Courses
- Higher Education Bridging Certificate
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Distinctive Features
- First private university in Uganda converted to public (2015).
- Strong emphasis on regional development and community service in Kigezi.
- Offers medicine and engineering programs, rare among regional universities.
- Multidisciplinary academic structure with training up to doctoral level.
