36 students graduate in Aga Khan IB 20th cohort

KAMPALA - Aga Khan High School, Kampala has marked a major academic milestone after graduating the 20th cohort of its International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, with a strong focus on academic continuity, diversity and global education.

This year’s cohort featured 36 graduates, including 17 females and 19 males, with students representing Uganda (23), India (10), Pakistan (2), and Kenya (1).

Academically, 34 students completed the full diploma, while two pursued IB course certificates.

Their academic backgrounds were diverse, with 30 students transitioning from the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and six from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) curriculum. Entry points into the school also varied from nursery to high school level.

Michael Musaazi, the school headteacher, described the graduation ceremony, held at Kampala Serena Hotel on May 25, 2026, as the culmination of a long and transformative journey.

“The completion of high school marks the culmination of a long and often demanding journey, and this graduation is a demonstration of dedication, resilience and commitment,” he said.

Since its launch in 2005, the programme has produced 650 graduates, comprising 367 females (57 per cent) and 283 males (43 per cent), reflecting what school leaders described as a sustained commitment to gender balance and inclusion.

Musaazi highlighted student engagement beyond academics, including conservation work at a chimpanzee sanctuary near Lake Victoria, partnerships with animal welfare groups, Habitat for Humanity, and Uganda Health Network initiatives.

“These are the qualities that will serve them well in the years ahead,” he added. “You are now leaders, innovators and agents of positive change.”

He praised parents, teachers and staff for their shared role in student success, saying their sacrifices, encouragement and steadfast support made the day possible.

Part of something bigger

General manager of Aga Khan Schools, Rahim Somani, welcomed graduates into a wider global alumni network spanning multiple countries and schools.

“Graduation does not simply mark the end of one chapter. It marks the beginning of another,” he said, adding that students are now part of a “multi-generational global alumni network built on shared purpose, belonging and mutual support.”

Somani emphasised international university partnerships with institutions including the University of Texas at Dallas, Toronto Metropolitan University, Harvard University, Seneca Polytechnic and others, describing them as pathways for future opportunity.
“While each school celebrates its own ceremony, we are united as one learning community shaped by resilience, compassion, and hope,” he said.

He urged graduates to approach a rapidly changing world with resilience and purpose, noting that the future will not simply happen to them but will be shaped by them.

Some of the Aga khan high school graduates at the event held on May 25th, 2026. (Credit: Bridget Ahurira)

Meanwhile, David Agnew, president of Seneca Polytechnic, addressed graduates through a global lens, highlighting education’s role in building inclusive societies.

“You are living examples of a community deeply dedicated to building a better, more inclusive world,” he said.

He stressed the importance of resilience in a rapidly changing global environment and urged graduates to serve communities beyond themselves.

Resilience and transformation

Class representative Rae Ssuubi Mwima reflected on the cohort’s transformation.

“What binds us now runs far deeper, and excellence isn’t born in isolation. It grows in late-night conversations, shared confusion, and collective persistence.”

Mwima emphasised resilience, collaboration and identity, urging peers to carry forward lessons of adaptability and authenticity.

“We learned to be authentically ourselves in a society that could have pressured us towards conformity.”

The ceremony also recognised individual academic excellence, with Ruhee Jivani, who scored 44 out of 45 points, highlighting her intention to pursue medicine at the University of Toronto.

“In IB I learned that no matter how much you plan, there will always be setbacks and the biggest part of learning is to bounce back and overcome these obstacles.”

She described independence and extended essay research as her greatest challenges, calling IB “a test of resilience and self-management.”

Graduate Ryan Lukermei Agaba described balancing intense coursework with Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) commitments that pushed students into real-world problem-solving.

“I built an app called Emporium Business Tracking System for local shops in my community,” he said.

“It helps track expenses, profits and revenue. I was inspired by my mum’s business.”
His project reflected a wider trend among students using technology and service learning to solve community challenges.

“The advantage is you become more diverse in the things you can do,” he added. “You gain more experience, even while managing a heavy workload.”

Across speeches and student reflections, themes of resilience, service and global citizenship dominated the ceremony.

Speakers repeatedly emphasised values of empathy, integrity and pluralism as essential for navigating an increasingly complex world.

Students highlighted experiences in research, extended essays, community service and innovation-driven projects that extended learning beyond the classroom.

As the Class of 2026 transitions into universities across the world, the Aga Khan IB Programme closed its 20th cohort with a record of academic consistency, expanding diversity and a strengthened emphasis on community impact.