Mountain Meets Land of 1,000 Hills

‘MKU is connecting young East Africans in a big way’ QUESTION: When did you join the MKU cam- Gloria Irakoze pus in Rwanda and who influenced you to? at work with UNHCR in Rwanda GLORIA IRAKOZE: I joined MKU in 2011. Truth- fully, no one influenced me. I wanted to go in- ternational and MKU was my best chance to get an international bachelor’s degree at that time, at a lower price. Which course did you pursue and why? I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in social work and administration. I love making an impact on people’s life, so I wanted to do humanitar- ian work. That course was my starting point. selves working together on different projects. prepared a birthday dance for president Moi What was your experience like at the cam- I understand you once travelled to the home in 2012, I was among the dancers included pus? of Kenya’s former president, Daniel Moi, to in the trip. I don’t remember the exact dates, I enjoyed it. I met different people. I learnt to dance. Tell us about the trip, the experience, but we reached there two days before the connect with people of different backgrounds and the dates? D-day. It was fun. We travelled as classmates and cultures. We are now employed in differ- Hahahaha. I was a traditional dancer at that and schoolmates, but most of us were already ent sectors and many times we found our- time and I used to train others. So when MKU used to dancing in different big events. We THE STORY OF MKUR 136

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI where did you get employed? I graduated on 11 December, 2014. I have been employed in different international NGOs. Currently, I am working with UNHCR Rwanda. What did you like the most about MKU? MKU is connecting young East Africans in a big way. Today, if I need something from Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and from almost all parts of Kenya, I have some- one to talk to for assistance. Gloria (left) and fellow MKUR students when they visited former Kenyan President Daniel What is your 10th anniversary message for Arap Moi (now late) at his home in Kabarak, Nakuru County, in 2014. MKUR? performed as professionals. of three years! So, I have been dancing since Happy 10th anniversary to MKU Rwanda Cam- You mentioned that you were training oth- my childhood, just for fun and to appreciate pus. Continue to scale the heights of educa- ers to dance. When and where did you learn our cultural dance. I was taught by my grand- tion. dancing? mothers. Ooooh my God; I started dancing at the age When did you graduate from MKUR, and 137 THE STORY OF MKUR

“I will always recommend MKU Rwanda”- Gatete BUBBLING WITH youthful enthu- MKU Rwanda. siasm, Gerard Gatete made a sol- He later served as Sports minister in the MKU emn promise to his father. Nearly Students Association, and was also among the a decade since his impetuous vow, he relives students who started a blood donation drive the memories of his mission and smiles with at the campus, and a cultural troupe that per- satisfaction. formed widely. “I promised my father I would be the most ed- On the academic front, Gerard remains fasci- ucated person in the family,” he reminisces. nated by what the campus gave him. He does He delivered. not shy from praising a university he consid- Gerard became the first member of his fam- Gerard Gatete during his graduation ers “the fastest-growing in Rwanda.” ily to earn a Master’s degree. Later, another grounds” in 2016 for his Masters in Internation- When he enrolled, MKU was the only ISO cer- member joined him. al Relations and Diplomacy and completed tified university in the country. He remembers What, however, brings the smile of satisfaction the studies in 2018. that the course he took was available only at to his face is not just that scholarly achieve- During the seven years it took him to com- MKU Rwanda. ment, but also the memories of his academic plete his first and second degrees, he learnt a He was personally delighted that the univer- journey. lot about his university. sity granted him a 10 percent discount on tu- Gerard studied for his BBICT degree at MKU Gerard was the first ‘Mr MKU Kigali’, a title he ition fees when he registered for the Masters Rwanda from 2011 to 2015. He returned to won the year he joined the campus. This re- programme since he had undertaken his un- the campus, which he refers to as “familiar mains one of his enduring memories from dergraduate there. THE STORY OF MKUR 138

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Multi-skilled Patrice Baraka keeps winning “THIS IS MY home,” Patrice Baraka de- jobs and that made me happy,” says the alum- clares. Anyone who hears him utter nus now making waves in the film industry. these words may think he is merely He undertook a Bachelor’s degree in Infor- being cocky. mation Science and then a Master’s in Media Patrice has a valid claim though. He spent six Management. eventful years at the campus, in many ways Winning the ‘Mr MKU Kigali’ title confirmed building part of its lore. his popularity on campus and he didn’t want Tall, Patrice can easily be noticed from far. His to disappoint those who voted for him. physique is among the attributes that won So, he behaved responsibly and this, he says, him the ‘Mr MKU Kigali’ 2012-2013 title. Then Patrice Baraka when he was crowned Mr. “contributed to making me the person I am again, he always put it to good use when com- MKUR 2013. Next to him is Jane Kayitesi, today.” the year’s Miss MKUR. peting against other university volleyball play- After winning the title, he was emboldened ers in East Africa. The man can also dance and the time he joined the campus. “I joined in to seek the Sports minister’s post during the had opportunities to showcase his skills dur- May 2012,” he says. “In September of the same MKU Students Association (MKUSA) elections ing a tour of Kenya. year, the campus allowed me to work as a li- and won. His achievements in academic circles as well brary assistant while studying.” He used his position to organise the 2013 vol- as in Rwanda’s nascent film industry speak of Patrice would later serve as an anchor at Royal leyball competition for East African universi- fellow who is also very intelligent. FM, a radio station owned by MKU. ties. Patrice retains his many happy moments Patrice’s love for books was evident right from “The management trusted me to do these in his memory. 139 THE STORY OF MKUR

Were it not for MKUR’s flexibility… if he couldn’t obtain at least a first degree? ademically. Henry agonised over his situation. Should he “I joined MKU in September 2013 while work- quit his job to pursue university studies or re- ing in a public hospital, and graduated in De- main stuck in his job with little prospects of cember 2015,” he recounts. advancement? He duly completed his Bachelor’s studies and The dilemma troubled him. When he later graduated. Earning the degree enabled him found a solution, he was rather amused. to compete for better jobs. He received a bet- Henry’s brother was a Master’s student at ter offer and moved to Babyl Rwanda, a global HENRY MURINZI obtained an Ad- MKU Rwanda. One day, Henry presented his health organisation based in the United King- vanced Diploma in Nursing and dilemma to him. Suddenly, a door opened. dom and which offers telemedicine services. landed a job in a hospital in Kigali. Henry could continue working while studying The ambitious nurse was determined to ad- He should have been happy, even contented for a Bachelor’s degree! MKU had just what he vance his education further. He returned to because he was engaged and earning a living. needed. MKUR in September 2019. But Murinzi was restless. He dreamt of being He says: “The university’s weekend pro- “I come to class during the weekends,” says much more than that. He wanted to rise high- gramme suited me. My brother gave me the Henry. “This enables me to be self-sponsored. I er in the nursing profession. information about the programme.” earn and pay my fees.” His job, though, which ran from Monday to And so, Henry’s unlikely journey began – and He is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health de- Friday, wouldn’t let him attend school during continues. Knowing that he could study dur- gree and plans to specialise in epidemiology. weekdays. How would he advance in his career ing weekends spurred him to aim higher ac- THE STORY OF MKUR 140

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Obiero, a proud product of MKU Rwanda CLEOPHAS OBIERO is the Country I later made many new friends from different Manager for Smart Applications In- backgrounds and countries. That offered me ternational (Rwanda) Ltd. He recol- good insights into other cultures. lects his days at MKUR: Classes were great. I enjoyed all of them. The “In 2013, my company in Kenya transferred me depth and detail of what we are learning was to work in Rwanda. Five months after settling far beyond any school experience I had before. in the country, I decided to do some online re- My business classes were also interesting be- search about the universities in Rwanda. I was cause they talked to me directly as a young excited to learn that MKU had a campus here, entrepreneur in an emerging market. In high Cleophas Obiero during his graduation using English as the language of instruction. It school, we only studied easy aspects of busi- ber of tournaments and we won some. was therefore a good fit for me. ness, but now we are relating them to the The education I received from MKUR not only I enrolled in May 2013 to pursue a Bachelor of real business ideas and motions. It has made encouraged me to be academically strong, Business Information Communication Tech- me realise how every piece of information we but also caused me to be a better person in nology. learnt relates to the real business world. That life. My experience there was amazing. I learnt so is probably the best part of university – intro- My approach to life improved and the inner many new things and time went by so fast. ducing new concepts that change our view of confidence I gained while at MKU have aided For starters, I found MKUR to be a very wel- the world. me to be the successful Country Manager I am coming place. I felt right at home from the As for extracurricular activities, I was part of today for my company, which delivers a wide very first day. the football team. We played in quite a num- range of world class ICT solutions in Africa. 141 THE STORY OF MKUR

Ndoli: I owe my career growth to MKUR DIDAS NDOLI, an executive at MTN ICT programme and offered them a pathway Rwanda, belongs to that special to advance in their chosen field. group of students who helped Ndoli says that having joined the university set off Mount Kenya University (MKU) on its when it started degree level programmes in Rwanda odyssey. He was among the students Rwanda, he was a first-hand witness to a high- who enrolled at the then Rwanda Tourism er education history unfolding before his eyes. University College (RTUC) in 2009 to under- He particularly appreciates the level of organ- take programmes offered by MKU through a isation the university demonstrated and the partnership with the college. Didas Ndoli, an executive leader in commitment from the main campus in Nai- This cohort had earned their diplomas in ICT Rwanda’s telecommunication industry robi. from the then Kigali Institute of Science and Where did he go after graduation? “I contin- Technology (KIST), a campus of the Universi- telecommunications courses they wanted ued with my work journey, to which MKUR ty of Rwanda. They then proceeded to MKU and was ready to establish itself in Kigali to contributed in enabling me to grow. Later on, Rwanda through an accreditation process enable them continue their studies right in in 2012, I again enrolled at MKUR for a Master’s that qualified them into running a one-year the country. “This was ideal because most of degree in Strategic Management. I success- programme to earn a degree from the univer- us were already working while studying part- fully completed the course and graduated. sity. time,” he says. This enabled me to continue growing (in my Ndoli explains that he and fellow KIST grad- This inaugural ICT cohort enrolled in the job) as the industry evolved. uates opted for MKUR because it offered the Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT) course. They felt it fitted into their prior THE STORY OF MKUR 142

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI E-commerce platform conceived at MKUR thrives FIVE MONTHS before graduating in Twezerimana still runs the company. August 2019, Pascal Twezerimana However, he is not doing it alone, but in cast his eyes into the future and reg- partnership with Uwase Nadette. Both were istered an e-commerce firm. He named it Idu- young when they established the firm: he, 23, ka Online. Three months after graduating, the and she, 22. company commenced operations. To date, Other than their mutual interest in entrepre- neurship, the two have much more in com- mon. Twezerimana holds a Bachelor of Sci- ence in Information Technology degree from Uwase Nadette MKUR. Uwase is a BBICT student at the same university. They are the ones who developed many. Their patience has since paid off and the app for Iduka. now they have numerous products and cus- At Iduka, sellers place various products (most- tomers. ly electronic goods, furniture and fashion The duo has also employed several people, items) on the firm’s portal for buyers to view thus creating jobs and helping grow the and order. Rwandan economy. At the beginning, getting sellers to list on They have also developed apps for other firms Pascal Twezerimana the portal was tough because the concept that offer a wide variety of services and prod- of e-commerce was not well understood by ucts, including entertainment and coffee. 143 THE STORY OF MKUR

Excellence through the eyes of Maclean ing happened. Who did the don see on stage Law and New Technologies.” during a plenary discussion? Seated among She talks about her academic journey and the panelists was a former student, who had how that led to her fulfilling employment: “I just graduated from MKUR the same year. cannot remember from who or how exactly I Prof Odhuno was excited and proud to watch heard about MKU. What I recall clearly is that his former student, Maclean Raissa Tuyisen- at the time, MKU was a new university in town ge Kayitare, discuss issues with much more and those who had started to attend spoke experienced ICT professionals. The panel was highly about ‘the university from Kenya’. I discussing the topic, “Innovations in ICT as Ac- decided to go and learn more about the uni- celerator of New Economies in East Africa”. versity personally. After a few discussions and Maclean Raissa Tuyisenge Kayitare Maclean, an ICT graduate, was attending the consultations with personnel at the applied event in her capacity as Head of Membership sciences department, I decided to enrol. That IT WAS on November 23, 2016 and MKUR and Office Manager at Rwanda ICT Chamber. was around September 2013.” Vice-Chancellor designate Prof Edwin Od- She was later given an opportunity to serve Maclean studied information science, spe- huno was attending an event of the In- as Head of Operations. Thereafter, her profes- cialising in Information Communication and ter-University Council for East Africa in Dar es sional trajectory hit a higher note. Technology (ICT), from 2013 to 2016. Salaam, Tanzania. “In 2018, I joined Volkswagen Mobility Solution “May MKUR continue to provide for the region Then, at the Academia-Public-Private Partner- as advisor to the CEO, before leaving for my the model of excellence, and unlock infinite ship Forum and Exhibitions, something strik- Master’s programme in Intellectual Property possibilities!” she says. THE STORY OF MKUR 144

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Meet Pascal Ngurinzira, an ICT innovations’ trailblazer PASCAL NGURINZIRA joined the Pascal while MKU Rwanda campus in January graduating 2013 to study for a Bachelor in IT de- from MKUR gree. in 2016. “I am Immediately thereafter, he attended an an- still pushing droid software development boot camp at the myself harder campus hosted by electronic giant Samsung as I feel I am and Zalego Institute of Technology and Inno- only doing a small percentage of what I am capable of doing,” he says. vation. It sparked a success story that interweaves en- their works and urged them to relentlessly “We were students at MKUR,” recalls Pascal trepreneurial and IT prowess. pursue their dreams. Pascal was among them. who was the main developer and funder of While still a first year student, he developed When the competition’s organisers an- the then nascent firm. his first Android app, which made more than nounced the winners, he was delighted to be He acknowledged his inexperience in run- 500 gospel songs available to users. That among the top five contestants. ning an ICT firm. He therefore joined eVolve, same year, Smart Africa organised a continen- “Transform Africa was one of the biggest ICT a software firm and digital agency, for eight tal event dubbed ‘Transform Africa’ in Kigali, summits to be hosted in Africa,” says Pascal, months for internship. While at the Rwanda Rwanda. revealing that a medical app he had devel- branch of the UK firm eVolve, he gained more Among other activities, the forum invited the oped won him the award. He founded his first software development experience. continent’s young innovators to showcase company, PSW Developers soon thereafter. After that training, Pascal went on to develop 145 THE STORY OF MKUR

together with his friends. graduated in July 2015. “I gained more experience, especially on work- “Two months after graduating, I left Appreci- ing methodologies,” the celebrated software ate and signed a deal with MobiKash as head developer remembers. of IT.” Pascal’s stay at Appreciate gave him the cour- Pascal worked with the firm for one year. In age to venture into entrepreneurship – again. 2018, he won ‘Face the gorilla’ competition. He asked himself why he should continue This earned him a trip to Israel, where he re- working for others. Emboldened, he founded ceived additional business training as well a Raisin, a firm he still owns and runs. medal for ‘Best sustainable project’. Pascal at the Abu Dhabi Fintech He thereafter worked with Appreciate using He won Hub Africa Rwanda competition in Conference in 2019. Raisin. Pascal couldn’t believe that he could 2018 and represented his country in an ICT a trading system for the Rwanda Stock Ex- do so much. “I had no idea what my company competition in Morocco. In 2019, Pascal rep- change. He was the project’s team leader and could do, what it could achieve,” he says. resented Rwanda in the FinTech Abu Dha- software developer. On analysing his firm’s capabilities, he realised bi Rwanda 2019 competition. He was ranked “After developing that system, I became an that it could turn it into a fintech. That pre- among the top four in the ‘Emerging Markets ICT superstar,” enthuses Pascal, indicating sented new opportunities. Fintech in the MENA region’. that companies started looking for him. Pascal developed a ticketing system for He says: “I am still pushing myself harder as In 2014, Pascal joined Appreciate, a Belgian events, then another for public transport. All I feel I am only doing a small percentage of firm based in Rwanda. The firm recruited him this while, he was still a student. Then he what I am capable of doing.” THE STORY OF MKUR 146

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Ngarambe and the echoes that won’t stop bouncing back WHENEVER VINCENT Nga- their graduation from Utalii College in 2008. rambe drives near MKUR, On his part, after working with a number of echoes of his past in anoth- tour firms in the country, he took the path er country ring strongly in his ears. of entrepreneurship. That happened in June It all began in 2006. 2012, when he established Let’s Go Tours He recalls that year vividly because his career Rwanda, to become his own boss. took root then. He had just completed high For five years, he nurtured the firm. Then he school and the Government of Rwanda had Vincent Ngarambe (in maroon sweater) decided it was time to make another move: plans for young people like him. receives a certificate from Dr. Mercyline Upgrade the diploma he had obtained from Rwanda was planning on joining the East Af- Kamande. Kenya Utalii College. rican Community (EAC) and the Government In May 2017, he enrolled for a degree in hos- deemed it necessary to send 20 of its young rates. And so, Vincent and his 19 compatriots pitality at MKUR. It took him only two years citizens – among them, Vincent – to Kenya to joined Kenya Utalii College. Rwanda became to complete the course, since he already had study hospitality and tourism. The idea was a member of the EAC in 2007, just a year after a diploma. He graduated in December 2019 to prepare the country to conform to the EAC he and his colleagues begun their training. with a First Class Honours degree. tourism and hospitality standards. The Government sent four other cohorts to Vincent is happy that his former university is “The Government was convinced that we Kenya. At the end of the programme, more building a 40-room facility to train hospitality would form the core personnel for the indus- than 100 Rwandans had received the training. and tourism students. “Well done, MKUR,” he try when we returned home,” Vincent nar- Vincent knows that many of these former col- says. lege mates are in Kigali City, contributing to national development in different ways since 147 THE STORY OF MKUR

Dreams come to life for two bossom buddies YOUNG PEOPLE can dream, and university. He ended up at a private university. dream big at that. They can im- How come he joined his friend Sam at Mount agine themselves doing some Kenya University Rwanda, doing the same great deeds and excelling in life in a big way, course they had dreamt of in their high school in years to come. Amazingly, some dreams days? How come the two did their internship have a knack for acquiring a life of their own at MKU’s Royal FM? to ultimately grow into reality. Lavie credits that internship opportunity to Two young men – M. Lavie and Sam Kalisa – who he is today: a media professional who has had an interesting encounter in which their enjoyed a stint as a journalist before switching dreams kept bringing their paths together in to public relations. coincidental ways, to ultimately enable them On his part, Sam has remained within the to turn their dreams into life at the same in- Sam Kalisa: “I joined MKU in May 2017 to journalism field, and, as a TV presenter, he is a stitution. follow my passion in journalism.” well-known media personality in Rwanda. For starters, they schooled together and be- In high school, both young men were passion- came bosom friends. They completed high Life, in its mysterious ways, had something ate about journalism. school and, having passed the final exams, else in store for them. In a benevolent twist, “I was interested in media and served as a looked forward to advancing to university. it conspired to deal them some interesting journalist in high school,” Lavie reminisces, ex- Well, it seemed like the time had come for cards. plaining that journalism was the only course them to take divergent routes. Lavie reflects on the moment his career took he was keen to pursue at university. a definitive path and marvels at life’s puzzling ways. Well, he was supposed to join a public THE STORY OF MKUR 148

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Consequently, he enrolled at the MKUR cam- Royal FM became a path to where I am today, pus in May 2017 to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and where I had envisioned to be. By the time in mass media and communication. I graduated at MKU, I was already employed at “I was looking for a place where I could gain RBA (Rwanda Broadcasting Agency). the skills that would enable me to play a role “As a stable higher learning institution, I’d say in Rwanda’s media industry,” he says. MKU has been significant in Rwanda’s educa- He goes on: “A former high school colleague, tion sector, which is absolutely a nursery for Sam Kalisa, informed me that he had enrolled the job market in Rwanda and everywhere. at MKUR to pursue a degree in mass media “I always recommend MKU to others because and communication.” the university brought in what I can call a rev- Lavie explains that although the public uni- Lavie M: “I have always been interested in a olution in the country’s education system, al- versity he had been called to offered the same career in media.” though there is always room for improvement. course, he became impatient when the insti- wanted to pursue as a career. Hence, I joined “I graduated with a First Class Bachelor’s de- tution took long to admit students. “I had to the university.” gree in mass media and communication. look for another university,” he says. He continues: “I joined Royal FM in May 2018 Some of my classmates have managed to get Sam, too, explains his journey: “I joined MKUR on the recommendation of my then lecturer, jobs in different media houses and institu- in May 2017 to follow my passion in journalism Mr Henry Mapesa. That helped me to gain the tions as PR officers. I have plans to advance and mass media. I visited the university and reality of some of what I had been learning and add a Master’s degree in corporate com- leant that it offered a wide range of what I in class, plus exploring a variety of other new munications.” stuff in the media industry. I can confirm that 149 THE STORY OF MKUR

Twahirwa Jean at his scrap metal enterprise: “The education I received from MKUR enables me to prepare business reports.” “I saw my expectations met,” he says. Twahi- rwa says he chose to study at MKUR because of its excellent facilities, a good studying en- vironment, and, as he later noted, qualified lecturers. “MKUR is now my neighbour,” he says in rela- tion to his scrap metal enterprise in the same neighbourhood as the university’s, less than a A business success fostered at MKUR kilometre apart. Twahirwa says the education he received at FOR TWAHIRWA Jean, it all started in May The newness of the place gave him a business MKUR has been useful to his business. “In pre- 2017 when he joined the university for his Mas- opportunity, and MKUR gave him the chance paring business reports, I no longer rely on ter of Business Administration studies. Earlier to operate a canteen at the campus. He did so other people. I do that myself,” he proudly de- in the year, MKUR had moved into its new from 2017 to 2019. clares. campus building. So, Twahira was going to And so as he was pursuing his MBA in Finance He considers the campus his second home, undertake his studies at brand new campus through evening classes, he was gaining vital where he interacts with a number of people, premises. practical experience at the canteen. especially faculty members. THE STORY OF MKUR 150

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI She came, she saw, she stayed IF IFEOMA ENEBELI Odili tells you where and she took it seriously. “My friend informed she wants to be in the next five years, you me about MKUR and I became interested,” If- might dismiss her as an overly ambitious eoma says. person. She dug online for more information on the A Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at university. The MKUR nursing programme im- MKUR, she sees herself graduating, getting pressed her. “One amazing thing is that the a job, pursuing a Master’s degree in Public course was a crash programme that takes Health thereafter, and later proceeding to three years,” she says. “That spurred me to en- work in Canada. rol with the campus, not just because of the That is the career dream of this young Nigeri- academic years, but also because the School an girl. Is this attainable? Ifeoma believes so. of Nursing was well-equipped with enough On February 20, 2019, destiny opened a door facilities and qualified lecturers. I decided that for her and she drove her foot in. I had come to the right place at the right time On that memorable day, she arrived in Rwan- and to be honest, it was all God’s guidance.” da from her home country. What did she do next? “I called my parents “I came to Rwanda on vacation and to meet back in Nigeria and convinced them, and by people,” she narrates. And people she met, God’s grace, here I am today,” says Ifeoma. and made friends with some, who, she says, “Nursing has been my dream career since I developed into family. One of them, also a Ni- was a child.” Ifeoma Enebeli Odili, Bachelor of Science in gerian, whispered some information to her Nursing student 151 THE STORY OF MKUR

An MKU in Kinshasa? Bob thinks it would be worthwhile BY AIR, the distance between the A section of interna- cities of Kinshasa and Kigali is tional students and 1,658km. By road, the distance ex- MKUR staff outside the university in Kagarama. tends to 2,727km – a difference of nearly 1,000km. So, the mode of transport determines how far apart the two cities are. The Democratic Re- public of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are neigh- bours. However, the distance between their two capital cities is massive. sa, ni kwangu kabisa,” says Bob, explaining in pus in Kinshasa. Does this distance matter? Kiswahili that by so doing, the university will Bob is a Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism To one Mwanza Monga Bob, it does; a lot. That have arrived at his home town. Management student. is the distance he has travelled each semester Bob imagines how convenient it would have Comfortable communicating in Kiswahili, to get to his campus. A Congolese from Kin- been for him to study in an MKU campus in French and Lingala, Bob was surprised to learn shasa, he found his ideal university in Kigali. Kinshasa. He wouldn’t have to travel all the that MKUR teaches in English, a language he That distance matters a lot to him and that is way to Kigali. was not used to. He says the security in Rwan- why he is making an appeal to the university. And so he wishes that other Congolese stu- da attracted him and he was impressed by the “I request the leaders of MKU to open a cam- dents would be luckier in the future if the clean environment that greeted him when he pus in Kinshasa, kwa sababu ikifika Kinsha- MKU leadership ever decides to set up a cam- arrived in the country and at the campus. THE STORY OF MKUR 152

ABAHOZE ARI ABANYESHURI Pride of students playing for national soccer team HAD EVERYTHING gone accord- “At any given time, ing to plan, Mbanza Joshua would you’re likely to find have featured at the 2021 African four to five MKUR Nations Championship, popularly known by soccer players also its French acronym, CHAN (Championnat playing for the na- tional team,” says Eric Nyasani, a sports co-ordinator. d’Afrique des Nations). He wouldn’t have been at the soccer bonanza as a fan or a match official, but as a Rwandan player, proudly representing his country on the pitch. Way back in February 2020, Joshua looked While representing his motherland, he makes He hoped to be at CHAN with compatriots forward to scoring many goals to lift Rwan- a big sacrifice. He usually takes plenty of time Bukuru, Jesse, Olivier, and others. These are da past the group stage into the elimination away from class. And, the further his team boys he often plays with. The quartet practis- stages and all the way to the final, where he progresses, the more class time he loses. This es together and represents their university, hoped to score the winning goals. Of course, does not bother him in the least, though, be- MKUR. he would have been banking on the support ing a patriotic Rwandan. These skilled footballers also play against each of his teammates as they would on his, since Joshua is a Bachelor of Mass Media and Com- other in the national league. Olivier plays for soccer is a team sport. munication student at MKUR, and among REG, Bukuru for Patriot, Joshua for Muhanga However, success on the CHAN pitch would Rwandan soccer players honing their skills at FC and Jesse for APR. At the same time, they have presented a flipside for Joshua. the campus. all turn out for the national team. 153 THE STORY OF MKUR

that moving the campus to Kicukiro in Janu- ary 2017 created room for the establishment of sports facilities. The campus has nonetheless always enjoyed success in soccer, he says, citing the teams of 2014 and 2016 as among the strongest they’ve had. The campus even participated in a re- Several of the MKUR students play profes- MKUR has an arrangement with Kagarama gional inter-universities competition in Rwan- sionally for local clubs. They have a strong Secondary School for its students to use the da. foundation to potentially lucrative soccer school’s playground during matches and for Success in soccer spurred the university to careers in future. weekly practice. launch a Vice-Chancellor’s Tournament in “Our students engage in a wide variety of early 2019. It has hosted three competitions, “At any given time, you are likely to find four sports,” says Emmanuel, listing basketball (for which it uses to identify talent. It also organis- both men and women), volleyball, swimming es an inter-secondary schools’ soccer tourna- to five MKUR soccer players also playing for and indoor games (table tennis and pool ta- ment through the marketing office. ble) as the other disciplines played on cam- MKU Rwanda has also been strong in volley- the national team,” says Eric Nyasani, one of pus. ball. During the 2014 East African universities’ Eric, who joined the university in 2011, explains tourney, the men’s team reached the quar- the sports co-ordinators and a lecturer at the ter-finals. campus. His colleague, Emmanuel Ochako, also a lec- turer and a sports co-ordinator, says the uni- versity’s investment in sports is paying divi- dends. THE STORY OF MKUR 154



ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI Current and former employees

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI Former VC-designate: ‘What I see when I look back’ “WHEN I joined Mount Kenya Universi- cross-border education alignment offered a ty (MKU) in 2011 as a Deputy Vice-Chan- good exposure and opportunity for us to learn cellor in charge of Coordination of more about the operations of different insti- Campuses and Centres, Kigali Campus was tutions of higher learning. This, together with a major focus. It was the only campus locat- the experience of providing leadership during ed outside Kenya and was at that time going the inspections, happens to be one of my sat- through some teething problems as would be isfying moments in Rwanda. experienced by any young institution of high- Students were equally treated to an exposure er learning. of a range of professionals drawn from the re- The campus presented a unique situation: gion and the world at large. that of cross-border education, represented At times, however, the campus would feel by a different mode of entry to university, a overburdened with challenges. But we always different regulatory regime and variations in Prof. Evans Kerosi, former Vice Chancel- found a reason to keep moving on. curricula, all occasioned by dissimilar policies lor-designate, MKUR I wish to honestly appreciate the commit- of the two governments. tion Council of Rwanda (HEC) with the aim of ment, resilience and robustness with which The campus also found itself in the unique sit- aligning its operations with the Rwandan sys- the Board of Directors, university manage- uation of being the only one in Rwanda from tem and ensuring compliance with the coun- ment, academic staff and the students’ body a foreign country. The inimitability attracted cil regulations. embraced the challenges as a single team frequent inspections by the Higher Educa- The process of fulfilling the necessary with no boundaries on rank, age, nationality 157 THE STORY OF MKUR

or tribe. greatly to the growth of the campus by provid- It is rare for them to be confrontational. This There is unanimity that the campus has made ing an enabling and conducive environment. behaviour is heavily embedded in their his- gigantic steps in the growth of physical facili- The whole experience leaves us with a good torical background and culture. The interac- ties since its inception. When one looks at the lesson of doing the right thing always because tion with students from the mother univer- campus now, one may fail to actually relate the fruits are sweet. sity and other countries provided them with it to its simple beginning in a relatively small When I was appointed as a VC designate, I had a good opportunity of learning how to strive rented building in Kigali city centre. the chance of interacting with the students and manage issues in different situations and Many have been curious and inquisitive as to and the staff on a daily basis. This gave me scenarios. the ownership of the campus that has kept the opportunity to share my experience and, Largely, our unique situation and delivery of growing. They wonder what secret lies behind at the same time, learn different cultures and quality education made the campus a choice the success of the campus that now match- beliefs. of many students. es international standards. Well, the secret is I found student management systems in Ken- Working in MKU Rwanda provided me with a “teamwork”. ya and Rwanda to be very different, coming good opportunity to add to my career and ex- During my tenure as the DVCCC & C, DVC APIA from a background where occasionally, stu- perience, given that I had also worked in other and VC designate, I learnt a lot on how to in- dents would demand their rights forcefully, East African countries. teract, engage and persuade the Board of Di- sometimes shouting: “comrade power!” and When I look back, I only refresh the sweet rectors and university management to make so on. memories and wish the MKU Rwanda cam- huge investments in a foreign country. The Rwandan students are friendlier but par- pus all the best in many more years to come. The Government of Rwanda also contributed ticular in their approach in solving a problem. THE STORY OF MKUR 158

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI DVC Dr. John Nyiligira reflects on a rewarding DR JOHN Nyiligira, MKUR Deputy Dr John Nyiligira, Deputy Vice-Chancellor weekends to upgrade their education.” Vice-Chancellor for Administra- in charge of Administration, Planning and He informed Prof Gicharu of this gap. tion, Planning and Institutional Institutional Advancement. Says Dr Nyiligira: “I told Chairman only one uni- Advancement (DVC-APIA), remembers that versity offered nursing training in the country, how he met the MKU Chairman Prof Simon with nurses. They used to travel to Goma or and at Master’s level. No university in Rwanda Gicharu in February 2011. The meeting marked offered Bachelors in Nursing. I told him there a turning point in his career. Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo were gaps in pharmacy, public health, nursing “I met Chairman through Henry Musisi,” he re- and medical laboratory technology at under- calls. “Haruna Atinda was teaching nursing at graduate level.” Kigali Health Institute (KHI) the same time as I Prof Gicharu asked what was required to was. He knew me.” mount these programmes. He adds: “I was (also) working at Kigali Univer- “I told him: curricula, infrastructure and fac- sity Teaching Hospital. Atinda hooked me up ulty,” says the DVC. “He told me the curricu- with Musisi, who introduced me to Chairman.” la would be sent to me. He sent curricula for Prof Gicharu asked Dr Nyiligira about gaps in undergraduate and postgraduate training in health sciences training in Rwanda. “He asked nursing, public health and medical laboratory me if I could help him to mount some health technology.” programmes at MKUR,” recalls Dr Nyiligira. (DRC) or Kabale in Uganda for further train- Leased premises He narrates his experience: “I used to work ing. They would travel there to study over the Dr Nyiligira adds: “We leased premises in 159 THE STORY OF MKUR

career journey he has come to love Kicukiro to start offering these health sciences timetables and sourced lecturers.” health sciences training. I came back in April programmes.” His efforts did not go unnoticed and the uni- 2012 and in May, we started offering the direct In May 2011, the centre opened with a Diploma versity appointed him the coordinator of entry pharmacy programme and the Bache- in Pharmacy programme. “We started with 11 health sciences training. lors in Nursing (upgrading) course. students from Rwanda Military Hospital,” re- Dr Nyiligira capped a fine year by wedding in That year also, MKU witnessed plenty of de- calls Dr Nyiligira. December 2011. velopments in health science training. Says Dr When he returned from his honeymoon, Nyiligira: “Dr Suje was brought in in June. Ma- More training the university sent him to Canada for three rete was helping me set up nursing. Dr Connie He further explains: “I met the commandant months for further training. came in on 1 September during the second in- and he had some idea of using pharmacy “I brought in Marete in January 2012 to stand take. Dr Suje was overseeing pharmacy train- technicians to support pharmacists. He gave in for me,” recalls Dr Nyiligira. “Humphrey was ing.” us one nurse to train on pharmacy tech- the in-charge as the Dean. Mwangi was help- MKUR continued on its health sciences train- niques.” ing.” ing journey. “From October 2015, Chairman In September 2011, the centre started offer- requested me to join the campus fully and be- ing programmes in medical laboratory (un- Follow-ups from Canada come DVC-APIA. I have remained in that posi- dergraduate upgrading), Bachelors in Public While still in Canada, he followed up on what tion to-date,” says Dr Nyiligira. Health and Masters in Public Health. was happening at the university campus. I “I was working with MKU in the evenings and had prepared the timetable and Marete was during weekends,” says Dr Nyiligira. “I created brought on board full-time to co-ordinate THE STORY OF MKUR 160

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI The don who teaches public health with supreme pride WHEN YOU meet Dr Erigene problem of pre-term deaths in Rwanda. Rutayisire in his office at The researchers investigated the effects of MKUR, you will immediately maternal characteristics and dietary patterns, notice that he carries a studious look. He ap- among other factors, on pre-term births. pears to be in deep thought most of the time, Dr. Rutayisire became the principal investi- and his face rarely breaks into a smile. gator. He explains that pre-term birth is one But when you engage him in matters public of the causes of death among children under health, the reflective face quickly lights up. five years. Rwanda has a pre-term prevalence The don adjusts his spectacles and prepares of 10 percent. Ultimately, the study was sup- to talk about an area he is passionate about. Dr. Erigene Rutayisire: “Our students are posed to help determine the cases of pre- making a difference.” term deaths in Rwanda. Teaching public health at MKUR, he says, is a highly satisfying job. that and joined MKUR in October 2017 as a It was that sense of satisfaction, he confess- lecturer. Three years later, he was promoted to MKUR Researchers at work es, that drove him from China where he had head of the public health department. The MKUR researchers then embarked on the gone to obtain his doctorate, to return home On November 11, 2019, MKUR signed a memo- study in 30 health facilities. In July 2020, they and serve fellow Rwandans. randum of understanding with the country’s recruited 1,159 women who were in their first He could have remained in China if he had National Council of Science and Technology trimester of the pregnancy (less than 12 weeks wished to, or gone elsewhere in search of (NCST). The council gave researchers at the since they conceived). more lucrative jobs. But he chose not to do campus a RWf47 million grant to study the Of the research candidates, 843 completed 161 THE STORY OF MKUR

the study. The researchers monitored them points out that MKUR’s public health pro- “The MKUR researchers until they delivered. They found the pre-term grammes have contributed towards improv- births prevalence to be 14 percent overall. ing Rwanda’s health sector. He estimates that then embarked on the However, the prevalence was double – at 28 40 percent of hospital heads in Rwanda grad- study in 30 health facil- percent – in the Southern Province. uated from MKUR. ities. In July 2020, they “We found that nutritional deficiencies (such recruited 1,159 women as anaemia and lower body mass index before MKUR builds capacity who were in their first pregnancy) and high blood pressure during trimester of the pregnan- pregnancy were major risk factors,” the don “The university has built the country’s capac- cy (less than 12 weeks says. ity in the health sector,” he observes, adding since they conceived). On December 7, 2021, the researchers dissem- that MKUR is the only private university in inated the key findings to directors of hospi- Rwanda offering a Master’s in Public Health programme, since 2011. tals, Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), NCST A public health alumnus from MKUR is Espe and universities that offer public health pro- Dusabe, who joined the campus in 2011. She grammes. was a laboratory technician with the Rwan- “I was promoted after completing the degree Dr. Rutayisire says with pride: “I want to give da Military Hospital before she enrolled in programme,” Espe says, and adds: “Learning my contribution to the public health sector, es- the Bachelors in Public Health programme, at MKU was a good experience for me.” pecially by ensuring our students get the skills to study during weekends and evenings. She Such experiences and impact, says Dr. Rutayi- they need to make a difference out there.” He completed the programme in 2014. sire, are the source of his job satisfaction. THE STORY OF MKUR 162

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI ‘My contribution to the growth of MKUR’ DR CLAUDE RUSIBANA is one of the the growth of the campus for the period personalities who significantly con- you were there? tributed to the growth of MKUR Dr Rusibana: In collaboration with local lead- Question: When did you join MKU Rwanda? ers, I participated in a community exchange Dr Rusibana Claude: “MKUR installed a ro- Dr Rusibana: I started off in 2013 as an Assis- programme. Through this initiative, the Uni- bust Integrated Management Information tant Lecturer in the School of Business and versity constructed houses for locals in Nyam- system.” Economics. I then became Head of the De- irambo sector, and in Kicukiro District. We partment of Business Management. My slo- organised a youth business competition that Dr Rusibana: I was also later appointed as gan was: “Don’t send a customer away”. attracted more than 2,000 applicants. I also Dean of Students. I linked MKU Rwanda with Implementing the slogan, I identified the participated in preparing students for grad- industries and our students were getting eas- challenges that students faced. We addressed uation and served as the master of ceremo- ily placed for internship. these issues until there were few student ny. In 2015, together with the then deputy MKUR is an active member of the Joint Ac- complaints. vice-chancellor for academics, Dr Mercyline tion Development Forum, which helps the At that time, the University operated a manual Kamande, I reviewed the postgraduate and Kicukiro District to ensure the economic and system, but within a short time, it installed a undergraduate curricula. social welfare of citizens are maximised. robust, integrated management information When I received my PhD in 2016, the universi- system (MIS). This made the provision of aca- ty promoted me to Dean (coordinator) of the demic services easier. School of Business and Economics. Specifically, what was your contribution to Q: The memories you retain of the campus? 163 THE STORY OF MKUR

Board representative: We now have top-notch facilities FOR MORE than a decade, Anthony tion with its own ultra-modern buildings. We Kamau has been a witness to the im- now have state-of-the-art training facilities.” pressive growth and development He says students were able to bear with the of MKUR. He says he has seen it all: the chal- university even when it was operating from lenges, the successes and generally, the exhil- three centres in town. arating experience of watching an institution The staff have been also outstanding in their evolve from humble beginnings into an aca- dedication, Kamau adds, and this has contrib- demic giant in just a decade. uted to the growth of the university. In October 2015, Kamau was appointed the Antony Kamau who represents the board His memory of the alumni is “how they have representative of the MKU Board of Directors at MKUR. “We now have state-of-the-art been successful in life and the way we have and has held that position ever since. training facilities.” trained even prominent people in the socie- He remembers how it all began for him: “I ty. They confess how the university has helped joined MKUR on January 5, 2011 as an account- Kamau also observes that in those days, Rwan- them improve their careers.” ant. Being the first time to leave my home da’s education sector lacked enough teaching Kamau pays tribute to the late Prof Elim country, I was a bit worried and anxious be- personnel, since the country had just switched Lokapel, who impacted the campus in an in- cause I knew no one there. from French to English. teresting way. “I learnt that MKUR had just started in late That change of language, Kamau notes, even- “He infused new energy into the institution’s 2010, and that it was the only foreign univer- tually made a positive difference. Kamau sums marketing drive and staff culture of serving sity in Rwanda.” up his experience at the campus this way: our students.” “The memory I have retained is the growth of the campus from scratch to a modern institu- THE STORY OF MKUR 164

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI My role in launching of postgraduate training at MKUR WHEN SHE landed in Rwan- in May 2012 and gradually rose to Deputy Vice da in 2011, Dr. Mercyline Ka- Chancellor. mande had no inkling that She became part of the campus’ budding she would be a key participant and witness to reputation when she was appointed the first history. Well, fate had all that in store for her. co-ordinator of postgraduate studies soon af- She thought she was set for a short stay, but ter joining the campus and was instrumental she gradually fell in love with the ‘land of 1,000 in establishing the School of Postgraduate hills’. Studies. Dr. Kamande met a people thirsty for knowl- “MKU became the first private university to of- edge and became passionate about helping fer postgraduate training in Rwanda and the them realise their dreams. She loved what she only private university offering training exclu- Dr. Mercyline Kamande, who served was doing and immersed herself in the job. sively in English, which was a plus and some- in different capacities at MKUR before “The thirst for knowledge in Rwanda is big,” thing that the community appreciated,” Dr. eventually being posted back to the mother university in Kenya. she says. “That eagerness to acquire new Kamande says. “I was consumed with the joy ates working at the campus because this has knowledge excited me and made me stay. of seeing students who joined the university helped her to grow professionally. “Being here When I saw the impact MKUR was having on with little or no English proficiency standing has had a massive impact on me as a person,” the people of Rwanda, I was convinced I was in front of their peers to present completed she says, adding: “It has helped me to build making a real contribution to humanity.” Masters projects in the English.” my career as an administrator and research- Dr. Kamande joined MKUR as a senior lecturer A consummate scholar, Dr. Kamande appreci- er.” 165 THE STORY OF MKUR

STAFF REFLECTIONS Imparting IT skills on MKUR students August, 2022. He says that even in his absence, he harboured a deep-seated responsibility over the future of MKUR, noting that the university’s success would be as much his own success. “MKUR is like my baby. I was among the peo- ple who implemented the initial programmes. We started with Bachelor of Commerce, and Master of Business Administration. Gradually, other programmes followed.” Dr. Nyabuga undertook his PhD at Dong- secured a scholarship to undertake a PhD at Donghua University is ranked among the hua University, China. He is replicating the Donghua University, China. He sought an un- world’s top 1,000 universities in the QS World learning to students at MKUR. paid study leave from MKUR, and the admin- University Rankings 2023. istration gladly gave him an open contract. Dr. Nyabuga says he hopes to replicate the SOON AFTER graduating with a Mas- “While in China, I kept tabs with the progress training he received at MKUR. At Donghua, ters degree in Information Technol- at the Department of Computing and Infor- he also published several papers in peer-re- matics,” he says. “We consulted frequently.” viewed journals. Such publications have a pos- ogy from Periyar University India in Dr. Nyabuga worked hard and earned his PhD, itive impact on MKUR’s ranking on the global subsequently resuming teaching at MKUR in stage. 2010, Douglas Nyabuga secured a teaching job at MKUR. He was one of the pioneer faculty members. He taught diligently for six years. In 2016, he THE STORY OF MKUR 166

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI Prophecy: There are promising times ahead for MKUR DR. JACOB NIYOYITA Mahina is a As the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of fi- veteran player in Rwanda’s ed- nance at RTUC, he was involved in the signing ucation arena. A longstanding of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) lecturer and university administrator, he has with MKU. witnessed the sector’s development from a “It is through that small window that MKU vantage point. Rwanda has been contributing to the devel- When he comments on the sector’s transfor- opment of the country’s human capital,” notes mation within the last decade, he draws from Dr. Jacob, who was in charge of partnerships his vast experience and knowledge. at RTUC at that time. “Rwanda’s education sector,” he says, “has Dr. Jacob Niyoyita Mahina The UTB senior lecturer says he has watched many opportunities.” Dr. Jacob makes this MKUR’s growth with keen interest. MKUR, the bold claim while viewing Rwanda’s education Now, he is seeing demand for doctoral train- don notes, is among high-ranking universities landscape from both students’ and investors’ ing rise. “Rwanda still has a few PhDs,” notes in Rwanda that have contributed heavily to- perspectives. Dr. Jacob. He sees this as a gap for education- wards increasing the number of graduates in He witnessed MKU enter the market to satis- ists to bridge. the country. Dr. Jacob appreciates MKU’s role fy a huge demand for undergraduate train- Dr. Jacob is a senior lecturer at the University in UTB’s development. “Before the MoU with ing. He has seen the market for postgraduate of Tourism Technology and Business Studies MKU, UTB, as RTUC, offered courses in hos- training swell as more Rwandans acquire first (UTB). He has been teaching at the university pitality and tourism only. Thanks to MKU, we degrees and aspire to advance academically. since its early days as RTUC and served as an have more courses.” administrator then. 167 THE STORY OF MKUR

“To us, this is an unmatched labour of love” Mashyimiyamana Annonciata Providence Mukundwa Muhamad Nshimyu Muremyi (Olivier) Support Staff Revenue Officer Driver SHE WAS employed as a support staff in Feb- I STARTED working at MKUR in November MUHAMAD NSHIMYU Muremyi has literally ruary 2011. She says her job has enabled her to 2010 in the department of Finance as a rev- driven many to their success. “I’ve encouraged raise her two children who are aged below 15. enue officer. The institution was well placed. many people to join MKUR,” he says. They in- She remembers that when she arrived at the It was located in town where different people clude students in Nursing, Pharmacy, Educa- campus, the student population was small had easy access. Many people had finished tion and Medical Laboratory Technology. Now but grew over time through aggressive mar- Bachelor degree studies and wanted to do the transport director, Olivier, treasures certif- keting and providing quality education. their Masters. MKUR participated in develop- icate of recognition he was awarded by MKU MKUR is the outcome an extraordinary effort ing education sector by providing knowledge chairman after six years of service. “MKU has by an exemplary team, she adds. to different Rwandans. treated me well,” he says. THE STORY OF MKUR 168

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI Francis Mwangi Purity Wairimu Dr. Maria Wambui Director-Quality Assurance Former Associate Dean of Students Former faculty member THE WORDS ‘quality’ and ‘transformation’ are I JOINED MKUR in January 2012. I was a I JOINED as an associate faculty member in always on Francis’ mind. The Director of Qual- part-timer in the School of Business and later February 2011. I served until 2013 when I was ity Assurance is focused on these two key is- I developed an interest in student activities. I transferred to Kenya. sues. It is not only the premises that embody became Associate Dean of Students and was I saw the Rwanda campus grow from the the quality and transformation; it is also how instrumental in organising many student ac- opening of its doors to becoming an amazing, the institution runs. He started off on attach- tivities such as Mr. and Miss MKUR. I am very busy, tight-schedule campus. I remember ment at MKU Main Campus in Kenya and was proud of the achievements of my past stu- with nostalgia the team spirit that pervaded later appointed a part-time lecturer. The rest, dents. They always mention the impact MKU the campus especially in the postgraduate as the saying goes, is history. made on their lives. MBA groups. It was evident quality educa- 169 THE STORY OF MKUR

tion had been needed in Rwanda and MKU was filling that gap. MKUR taught me most of what I know today. The first day I entered a class to lecture, there were 135 students. We were following Rwanda’s module system and I was in class every day for two weeks from 8am to 2pm; that is, six hours. The next class I was assigned was in a hall. Most memorable were the many microphones for myself and for students to use when answer- Zachary Thiga Brigitte Gihozo ing questions. After going through that, I had Deputy Director -Admissions Information Centre gained valuable experience. “I CAME to Rwanda on 24 July, 2010 as a gradu- On a typical day at MKUR, scores of young MKU gave me an opportunity to unlock many ate assistant. I was present in Kigali in August people – and a few elderly ones – stop at the possibilities. I have learnt that it is always pos- 2010, during the first intake. The flagship pro- information desk. These visitors meet a young sible. Thank you. gramme was a Masters in Business Adminis- lady who welcomes them warmly. Brigitte has I thank God most sincerely for the beautiful tration (MBA). Gradually, we also introduced been serving here since 2013. Besides her of- road I have passed, especially through service other programmes. Career wise, I am now fice work, the ambitious lady has also under- to different campuses of MKU. God bless MKU. Deputy Director, Admissions and Registra- taken a Masters in Hospitality at MKUR. She is Long live MKU. tion. MKUR’s transformation has been great, a former student at UTB, which initially part- thanks to the support from Rwandan people. nered with MKUR as RTUC. THE STORY OF MKUR 170

ABAKOZI N’ABAHOZE ARI ABAKOZI Building MKUR: What a journey it has been! Prof. Stanley BUILDING MOUNT Kenya University Waudo, Rwanda from scratch has been a stupendous journey. It’s been an first Vice- exhilarating decade to all who’ve been associ- Chancellor of ated with the institution. Mount Kenya Why? Because in one moment we were dealing University with adverts to bring students to our Thika main campus, then in the next one, we were setting up teaching centres in Rwanda. I liken MKUR’s development to the mix of ago- ny and ecstasy a parent endures as a child at- tempts to walk. A parent watches with bated breath as the baby crawls and later struggles to be steady when standing to make those first steps. The parent remains hopeful that the baby will not hurt itself each time it stum- bles, and that it will gather courage to rise up and attempt the same move before it gains 171 THE STORY OF MKUR

confidence that it can go forward without fall- Today, if you whispered the name ‘MKU’ in ing. Rwanda, many ears will easily pick up that ac- That has been our lot at MKU. We have ago- ronym. MKU has been part and parcel of the nised each time we saw the nascent campus efforts to build the society in Rwanda. falter. At the same time, we have been ecstat- Our alumni proudly associate themselves with ic each time it jumped over a new hurdle. the university. More importantly, they value it Our experience has been especially unique for imparting the knowledge, skills and atti- because other universities that attempted tudes that make them preferred by employers cross-border education about the same time First MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stanley across public, private and non-profit sectors. as us fell by the wayside. That was quite un- Waudo addresses Rwandan students We are honoured that they believed in us. We fortunate. We were dealing with the unique studying in Kenya. thank them and their parents and guardians situation of being governed by the standards for giving us the chance to serve them. Their and regulations of the education sectors of by doubters to develop into the ultra-modern bet has paid off. two countries. The guidelines were well-inten- campus it is now. We persevered, all the time At the same time, we wish to appreciate our tioned, and we never shirked from following believing that doing the right things the right brave and passionate staff for giving their them strictly to the letter. Today, we are proud way will finally vindicate us. It has. best. They can confidently say that they are of what we have been able to achieve in the We knew that we had a responsibility to our contributing to making the world a better last twelve years. There is a high likelihood that students to give quality education they could place by empowering generations through our baby in Rwanda was given little chance be proud of, and that would help harness their education. latent talents. We were not ready to let them down. We never did, and never will. THE STORY OF MKUR 172

WHAT NEXT? Bold future for MKUR as fully accredited “MKUR will play a ONE OF THE core pillars of Rwan- da’s Vision 2050 is Human Devel- pivotal role in the opment. realization of the By the year 2050, the share of the working Republic of Rwan- da’s development age population is expected to grow from blueprint, the ‘Vision 2050.’ around 61% of the country’s population (as at 2017) to 65.7%. “Reaping economic benefits from this ‘de- mographic dividend’ will be realized only through an integrated approach that en- sures that decline in fertility is backed up by essential investments in human capital development and economic reforms so that ment and economic growth as well as build- the country has a healthy, well educated, and ing knowledge-based economy,” adds the highly skilled labour force that is gainfully blueprint. employed,” notes the Vision 2050. To this end, the country envisions universal “Higher education is expected to play a crit- access to high quality education (“The edu- ical role in enabling Rwanda to realize her cation system will be market-led to match ambitions of attaining a sustainable develop- Rwandans’ skills with the modern industries 173 THE STORY OF MKUR

by the Government of Rwanda, and role in ‘Vision 2050’ Vision 2050’s ‘Human Development’ pillar and MKUR’s five pillars of growth into the future and services that drive the economy”), and learning that will be at the forefront in ensur- providing an unparalleled learning environ- building these objectives upon a foundation ing this bold Vision 2050 is achieved. ment and state-of-the-art infrastructure for of strong macroeconomic fundamentals and Its commitment to continuously train high- both teaching and research. effective institutions supported by positive ly qualified graduates who will contribute This commitment is being propelled by FIVE values and leveraging on home grown solu- to Rwanda’s social-economic development CORE PILLARS that define MKUR’s future. tions.” continues to become stronger by the day. (See overleaf) MKUR is one of the institutions of higher The university is also committed to continue THE STORY OF MKUR 174

1 Transform university into a Centre Nursing is one of the most marketable profes- of Excellence in Hospitality and sions in the world. It’s not just in Africa where Tourism training there is a shortage of qualified nurses, but in 16 gas cookers and demonstration tops. A Western countries too. The shortage is in the Chips maker, Meat grinder, Potato peeler, Piz- US, Canada, UK and other countries. Accord- za oven, Industrial grade mixer, Coffee maker, ing to the report Sustain and Retain in 2022 Salamander food warmer, Grilling machine, and Beyond by the International Council of Doughnut maker, and Towel warmer are just Nurses, there is a global shortage of 5.9 million but a few of the cutting-edge equipment nurses. Another 4 million nurses are expect- at this training centre. And with a new ho- 2 Turn the School of Nursing into a ed to retire in the next 10 years, making an al- tel coming up- Kigali Paramount Hotel- (See Centre of Excellence ready bad situation worse. MKUR will prepare page 76), MKUR students will get further young Rwandans for such job opportunities hands-on training. locally and internationally, through the best quality training. To achieve this, the university management will continue investing heavi- ly in top-of-the-range equipment for nurses’ training. The School will continue benchmark- ing against Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in the USA. (See page 77). THE STORY OF MKUR 175

3 Inculcate innovations and 4 Enhance Corporate Social 5 Continuous improvement of entrepreneurship on all Responsibility programmes resources: Physical and human programmes offered by the resources university to graduate job creators The university will work tirelessly to ensure its Every year, MKUR staff and students get ac- Continuous improvement will focus on day- graduates are globally competitive. This will tively engaged in a variety of Corporate So- by-day re-assessing of available facilities and also include areas of entrepreneurship and ensuring they match up to the demands for ICT innovations. The university will establish teaching and instruction. The university will linkages and partnerships with local and in- also focus on staff development to ensure ternational organizations to ensure competi- they deliver the best services to the students. tiveness in all matters research and training. These linkages will also ensure that the uni- cial Responsibility (CSR) programmes. This is versity students gain relevant exposure in the a way of giving back to the community. The course of their studies. university is, in itself, a CSR programme with a commercial engine. The programmes will continuously be designed to benefit not just the host community in Kagarama but Rwan- da at large. They will include more scholar- ships, more support to ‘Girinka’ and more sponsorships of sporting activities. 176 THE STORY OF MKUR

Adequate infrastructure for learning and co-curricular A globe at MKUR forecourt, symbolising the university’s international education. TOP RIGHT: MKUR main building in Kagarama. RIGHT: Royal House, the home of MKUR’s Royal FM 94.3 177 THE STORY OF MKUR

activities is at the core of MKUR A place for students of all religious faiths FROM TOP, LEFT: The MKUR students who are members of the well-stocked MKUR Christian Union converge in one of the library; the Hospitality rooms for their weekly praise and worship & Tourism Manage- sessions. The university has provided them ment Centre; Student with a variety of musical equipment. hostels; Swimming pool and a pool table. Muslim prayer mats (sajjadat aṣ-ṣalat) The sporting facilities at one of the dedicated prayer rooms set are free to use for all aside for Muslim students at MKUR. MKUR students. THE STORY OF MKUR 178

NATIONAL ANTHEM “Rwanda Nziza” I I I Rwanda, our beautiful and dear country Rwanda nziza Gihugu cyacu Rwanda, nchi yetu nzuri na yenye Adorned of hills, lakes and volcanoes Wuje imisozi, ibiyaga n’ibirunga kupendwa na milima, maziwa na volkano Motherland, would be always filled of happiness Ngobyi iduhetse gahorane ishya. Nchi ya Mama, ingejazwa furaha kila wakati Us all your children: Abanyarwanda Reka tukurate tukuvuge ibigwi Sisi watoto wako wote: Abanyarwanda Let us sing your glare and proclaim your high facts Wowe utubumbiye hamwe twese Wacha tuimbe mng’ao wako na tutangaze ukweli You, maternal bosom of us all Abanyarwanda uko watubyaye wako wa hali ya juu Would be admired forever, prosperous and cover Berwa, sugira, singizwa iteka. Wewe, kifua cha mama yetu sisi sote of praises. Ungeweza kupendwa milele, mafanikio na funika sifa. II II Invaluable heritage, that God protects to you Horana Imana, murage mwiza II You filled us priceless goods Ibyo tugukesha ntibishyikirwa; Urithi wenye thamani, kwamba Mungu analinda Our common culture identifies us Umuco dusangiye uraturanga kwako Our single language unifies us Ururimi rwacu rukaduhuza Ulijaza sisi bidhaa zenye bei kubwa That our intelligence, our conscience and our Ubwenge, umutima, amaboko yacu Tamaduni yetu ya kawaida hututambulisha forces Nibigukungahaze bikwiye Lugha yetu moja inatuunganisha Kwamba akili Fill you with varied riches Nuko utere imbere ubutitsa. zetu, For an unceasingly renewed development. dhamiri zetu na vikosi vyetu Kukujaza utajiri anu- wai III III Kwa maendeleo yasiyokoma tena. Our valorous ancestors Abakurambere b’intwari Gave themselves bodies and souls Bitanze batizigama III As far as making you a big nation Baraguhanga uvamo ubukombe Wazee wetu wenye nguvu You overcame the colonial-imperialistic yoke Utsinda ubukoroni na mpatsibihugu Walijitolea miili na roho That has devastated Africa entirely Byayogoje Afurika yose mbali na kukufanya wewe kuwa taifa kubwa And has your joy of your sovereign independence None uraganje mu bwigenge Ulishinda nira ya ukoloni-ubeberu ambayo ime- Acquired that constantly we will defend. Tubukomeyeho uko turi twese. haribu Afrika kabisa na furaha yako ya uhuru wako IV IV huru imepatikana ambayo kila mara tutatetea. Maintain this cape, beloved Rwanda, Komeza imihigo Rwanda dukunda Standing, we commit for you Duhagurukiye kukwitangira IV So that peace reigns countrywide Ngo amahoro asabe mu bagutuye Kudumisha hii Cape, Mpendwa Rwanda, That you are free of all hindrance Wishyire wizane muri byose Kudumu, tunajitolea kwa ajili yako Ili amani itawale That your determination hires progress Urangwe n’ishyaka, utere imbere nchi nzima That you have excellent relations with all countries Uhamye umubano n’amahanga yose Kwamba uko huru na kizuizi chochote And that finally your pride is worth your esteem. Maze ijabo ryawe riguhe ijambo. Kwamba uamuzi wako unakodisha maendeleo Kwamba una uhusiano mzuri na nchi zote Na kwamba hatimaye kiburi chako kinastahili heshima yako. 179 THE STORY OF MKUR



“Empowering generations through Education”

MOUNTAIN MEETS LAND OF 1,000 HILLS This book captures the story of how the uni- versity started a campus in Rwanda upon re- ceiving approval, its initial operations, chal- lenges experienced, and how it surmounted these challenges by establishing its own infra- structure. The story is told through the prism of university founders, senior management, graduates/alumni, and bene ciaries of univer- sity’s community service. It also celebrates the natural beauty of Rwanda, and acknowledges the guidance by the Government of Rwanda and the Higher Education Council among other bodies in the ful lment of its Mission and Vision. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela