By Gad Masereka
Apex International University has celebrated a landmark moment in its history as it held its maiden graduation ceremony, officially inaugurated the institution, and installed its first Chancellor during a colourful event presided over by Vice President Jessica Alupo at the Pearl of Africa Hotel in Kampala.
The ceremony, attended by government officials, education stakeholders, parents, academic staff and students, saw 400 graduates receive their academic awards, becoming the university’s first cohort to complete their studies.
Representing President Yoweri Museveni, who serves as Visitor to all universities in Uganda, Vice President Alupo formally inaugurated the institution, declaring it a fully-fledged centre of higher learning committed to academic excellence, research, innovation, ethical leadership, international cooperation and service to humanity.
Invoking the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Alupo officially pronounced Apex International University inaugurated, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey.
The event also witnessed the installation of Hon. Wilson Twinomugisha Kajwenge as the university’s inaugural Chancellor for a four-year term.
Kajwenge, a lawyer, diplomat and Member of Parliament, brings extensive experience in security governance, intelligence and conflict resolution across the Great Lakes region. He holds qualifications in security studies from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and previously served as Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs.
Following his oath of office and the signing of the instrument of appointment, Kajwenge pledged to uphold the Constitution and the university’s governing principles.
Addressing the congregation, the newly installed Chancellor said Apex International University was established to bridge the gap between academic training and labour market demands, a challenge he noted has contributed to unemployment among many graduates.
“We are going to be a university with a difference,” Kajwenge said, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to practical skills development, innovation and research-driven transformation.
He credited the government’s liberalisation of the education sector for creating opportunities for private investors to establish institutions that complement national efforts in expanding access to higher education.
State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Phyllis Chemutai, who represented State Minister for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, described the occasion as a significant achievement for the university.
She said the graduation demonstrated the institution’s progress from establishment to producing graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to Uganda’s development.
Chemutai applauded the university for supporting students through work-study opportunities, revealing that more than 100 learners had benefited from programmes that enabled them to work while pursuing their studies.
She urged higher institutions of learning to strengthen partnerships with industry to ensure graduates leave university equipped with practical and employable skills.
In a message delivered by Vice President Alupo, President Museveni reflected on the transformation of Uganda’s higher education sector since 1986, when Makerere University was the country’s only public university with an enrolment of about 5,000 students.
The President noted that the sector has since expanded significantly, with dozens of public and private universities now serving hundreds of thousands of learners across the country.
He attributed this growth to the government’s decision to liberalise the education sector and encourage private investment in higher learning institutions.
Museveni further urged universities to prioritise science, technology and innovation-related programmes that align with the needs of the private sector, noting that government employment opportunities remain limited.
He also encouraged graduates to maintain discipline, embrace hard work and avoid destructive lifestyles as they transition into the world of work.
During the ceremony, Vice President Alupo announced plans to visit the university’s main campus together with officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports to assess its readiness for a full charter.
She said the government was committed to supporting the institution through the charter acquisition process, which would further strengthen its standing within Uganda’s higher education system.
The university’s journey dates back to 2001 when its founders embarked on efforts to establish a private institution of higher learning. That vision culminated in Thursday’s historic triple milestone of inauguration, chancellor installation and maiden graduation ceremony.
As the institution begins a new chapter, university leaders expressed optimism that its focus on skills-based education, research and innovation will position it among Uganda’s emerging centres of academic excellence.
With its first 400 graduates now entering the job market, Apex International University has set its sights on securing a full charter and expanding its contribution to the country’s growing higher education sector.
