Mountains of the Moon, Kumi, UICT stand out at NCHE exhibition
In the Public and Chartered Private Universities category, Mountain of the Moon University claimed the top spot, followed by Uganda Christian University in second place, while the University of Kisubi came third.
A team from Mountain of the Moon University who emerged the best exhibitor in the Public and Chartered Private Universities category receiving their award. (Photos by Abdulkarim Ssengendo)
Abdulkarim Ssengendo
Journalist @New Vision
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Mountains of the Moon University, Kumi University, and the Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology have emerged as the best exhibitors at the 15th Annual Higher Education Exhibition.
The three-day exhibition, which concluded on Saturday, March 29, was hosted at Kamukuzi Hill in Mbarara city and remains a key feature on the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) calendar.
The Uganda Institute of Information and Communication Technology was named the best exhibitor in the Other Tertiary Institution category, followed by the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services as the first runner-up, while the Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba, secured third place.
Kumi University emerged as the champion in the Provisionally Licensed Universities and Other Degree-Awarding Institutions category, with Livingstone International University taking second place and Equator University of Science and Technology ranking third.
In the Public and Chartered Private Universities category, Mountain of the Moon University claimed the top spot, followed by Uganda Christian University in second place, while the University of Kisubi came third.
Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda (right) and Prof. Joy Kwesiga touring exhibitions at the 15th Annual Higher Education Exhibition held at Kamukuzi hill in Mbarara city. 
Announcing the results, chief judge Dr Edward Kanyesigye explained that the assessment focused on seven key areas: alignment with the exhibition theme, creativity, level of participation, subject knowledge, articulation, number of stalls, and overall display.
He noted that the judging panel was highly impressed by the quality of the exhibitions.
This year’s exhibition was held under the theme Challenges and Best Practices of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration in Higher Education in Uganda. It was officially opened by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa as part of the Annual Higher Education Week, which began with a conference inaugurated by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Kataha Museveni, at Hotel Triangle in Mbarara city.
Speaking at the event’s closure, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda commended the level of participation, highlighting the exhibition’s role in promoting equitable access to information and expanding awareness and opportunities for students.
She also noted that the event provided institutions with a platform to showcase diverse learning pathways.
Prof. Mary Okwakol, the executive director of NCHE, expressed gratitude to Mbarara city for hosting the event and appreciated the universities and institutions that took part.
She reaffirmed NCHE’s commitment to ensuring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education to address national challenges.
Meanwhile, NCHE chairperson Prof. Joy Kwesiga urged participating universities and institutions to focus on adding value to their innovations, emphasising the importance of innovation in advancing higher education.