Karachi: Pakistan’s first private university to expand its operations in Africa, Aga Khan University (AKU) celebrated start of construction of its new campus in Kampala at ceremony attended by First Lady of Uganda Janet Museveni and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

“We know that through this facility, new crop of exceptionally skilled and equipped nurses and midwives will be available to support health sector all over Uganda in years to come,” said Janet Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports.

“Aga Khan Development Network’s goal in East Africa is to build network of clinics and hospitals that brings primary care as close to peoples’ homes as possible, while also linking them seamlessly to advanced care,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said.

Government of Uganda and speakers expressed their gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for his vision and his strong support of project. Funding for construction was provided by Aga Khan, generous donors and Government of Germany’s BMZ and KfW. Valuable support was also provided by East African Community.

60-acre campus located in Nakawa area on New Port Bell Road and Jinja Road will feature in its first phase seven-storey University Centre, nine-storey student housing building and Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala. Hospital will offer care in nearly two dozen specialties, ranging from family medicine to oncology. Project represents one of AKU’s largest investments in East Africa to date. This will enable significant expansion of University’s existing School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala and will also allow University to begin training medical specialists in fields such as internal medicine and surgery. Construction of University Centre and student housing is currently underway. Construction of hospital will start early next year. Four-storey ambulatory care building will offer outpatient care in wide range of specialties in advance of hospital’s completion.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 29 2023

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