By Paul Watala
As part of celebrations to mark 25 years of its existence, the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) community cleaned the streets of Mbale town and Mbale Hospital.
“We decided to dedicate a full week to serve the community by cleaning the town and hospital, donating blood and planting trees to beautify the town so that it regains its lost glory,” the vice rector, Muhammad Muhingo, said.
He said other activities and events that will be carried out in the same week include holding public lectures, playing football and netball between the staff, students and community members.
He said the staff and students cleaned wards in Mbale Hospital and made some donations to the patients as a way of giving back to the community, adding that they would also donate blood to save lives.
“We talked to the blood bank and we were told they are currently in need of 600 units of blood but our target is to donate over 2,000 units,” Muhingo said.
He said IUIU in the last 25 years had registered a number of achievements that have seen its population grow from 80 to 8,000 students and expanded from one campus to four campuses.
Muhingo hailed President Yoweri Museveni for giving the university 218 acres of land for expansion.
He said IUIU started with two faculties but is now running 50 academic programmes and that they intend to introduce a faculty of medicine next year. “Due to the increased demand of our services the university is trying to solicit for resources so that we can expand. Recently we commissioned dormitories for both female and male students but the space is not enough,” Muhingo said.
