Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is a private university in Uganda, affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and owned by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Bishops of Uganda. Founded in 1993 with only 84 students, UMU has grown into one of the country’s leading private universities, licensed by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE).
Location
The main campus of Uganda Martyrs University is at Nkozi, Mpigi District, about 85 km southwest of Kampala along the Kampala–Masaka highway. UMU has also expanded to several satellite campuses, including Masaka, Lubaga, Nsambya, Kabale, Moyo, Mbale, Mbarara, Lira, and Fort Portal, making it one of the most widely distributed private universities in Uganda.
History
UMU was officially established in October 1993, starting with two academic units: the Institute of Ethics & Development Studies and the Faculty of Business Administration & Management. Over the years, it has expanded to include seven faculties, three schools, two institutes, nine departments, and ten campuses.
At its 24th graduation ceremony in November 2018, UMU graduated over 2,040 students across diploma, degree, master’s, and doctoral programs. The same year, the Faculty of Engineering at Fort Portal Campus was inaugurated.
In June 2023, Raphael p’Mony Wokorach was appointed Chairman of UMU’s Governing Council, succeeding Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok.
Faculties and Academic Units
UMU currently comprises:
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Business Administration & Management
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of the Built Environment
- Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- Institute of Ethics
- Institute of Languages and Communication Studies
- Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School
- School of Arts and Social Sciences
- School of Postgraduate Studies and Research
These units offer over 130 programs, ranging from certificates and diplomas to postgraduate degrees.
Campuses
UMU operates across ten campuses, including:
- Nkozi (Main Campus) – Mpigi District
- Lubaga – Kampala, housing the School of Diplomacy
- Nsambya – Kampala, housing the School of Medicine (founded in 2010)
- Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Kabale, Lira, and Moyo – regional campuses
- Fort Portal (Kabarole Campus) – home to the Faculty of Engineering
Notable People
- Joseph Anthony Zziwa – Chancellor, Catholic Archbishop of Mbarara.
- Prof. Patrick Edrin Kyamanywa – Vice Chancellor since 2021.
- John Maviiri – Vice Chancellor (2015–2021).
- Charles Olweny – Vice Chancellor (2006–2015).
- Paul D’Arbela – Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Mother Kevin Medical School.
- Jovia Mutesi – the Inhebantu of Busoga.
- David Burrell (CSC) – Catholic priest, lecturer of comparative theology.
Overview
Today, Uganda Martyrs University serves over 4,600 students, with nearly 3,000 distance learners. Its Catholic heritage emphasizes ethics, leadership, and service, while its expansion into medicine, engineering, agriculture, and communication reflects its role in shaping Uganda’s future workforce. UMU continues to uphold its motto: “In Virtue and Wisdom Lead the World.”
