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WAKISO - The management, students, and lecturers at the Africa Renewal University are still celebrating a charter that was recently granted by President Yoweri Museveni after fulfilling all the requirements as set by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

At a Thanksgiving ceremony held at the main campus at Buloba in Wakiso district on Friday, April 26, 2024, the management, led by the founder and chancellor, Pastor Peter Kasirivu and the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Byamukama celebrated the charter as one of their greatest milestones ever since the University was started.

The guest of honor at the function, the First Lady and minister of education and sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni who was represented by David Bahati (Pictured), the state minister for industry, expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for considering it appropriate to award them a charter. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The University transformed from a small Bible Institute at Gaba where they started with 35 students in 2007b to the current 1,181 students.

The guest of honor at the function, the First Lady and minister of education and sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni who was represented by David Bahati, the state minister for industry, expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for considering it appropriate to award them a charter.

She said in a speech read by Bahati that the University was one of the growing private institutions that offers academic excellence and leadership skills.

Apostle Joseph Sserwadda signing on the charter.

Referring to the act as a great milestone, Mrs. Museveni said it was an honor and pleasure for her to be associated with the Institution, which she said holds particular significance since several major achievements preceded them from their modest beginning in 2007.

“I thus believe that your attainment of this Charter demonstrates the commitment, vision and dedication put into providing transformative education to all the young people, who have gone through these gates.”

“You have tirelessly equipped them with a holistic education that not only comprises of their academic studies, but also includes skills development and to instill values-based leadership in them."

Mrs. Museveni said that the country was witnessing many of the University alumni who are a generation of leaders poised to ‘transform Africa from a biblical viewpoint, employing God-given solutions for re-building institutions, some of which have increasingly been impacted by corruption, mismanagement, and ungodly leadership’.

She commended Pastor Kasirivu for using the Africa Renewal Ministries to change the lives of thousands of people from among the poor communities, together with his wife, Irene Kasirivu, for being role models in the body of Christ.

“I indeed give thanks to God for you and for the contribution you have made not only to the body of Christ but also to the nation, through your faithful ministry that spans over 40 years of service, in the communities God has sent you to,” she said.

She urged the University to not only maintain the exceptional standards of higher education delivery but to exceed the expectations of the ministry of Education and Sports, by raising the University’s profile with each passing year.

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Bahati said attaining a charter was rigorous because of the standards and the quality of education and research that is required.

He said it is a big achievement for the African Renewal University since out of 55 universities that applied in the same period, only 15 have so far been granted a charter.

He asked the rest of the applicants to work towards achieving all procedures and standards because once one attains them, it opens their doors to have exchange programs with other universities. 

It also helped them to be accredited by several institutions as well as build confidence amongst students and lecturers.

“The First Lady wants Universities to instill discipline in students, giving them knowledge and the required skills because they are the leaders of tomorrow, she wants them to produce all-round, morally equipped students,” he explained.

Pastor Kasirivu said it had been a long but beautiful journey, waiting for five years to achieve the charter. He thanked NCHE and the President, saying that the council had put them on such a grueling experience that no one desires to experience, which had finally made the campus is so beautiful and better.

He applauded the President for bringing the peace that has allowed them to be where they are today.

He asked the Government and other institutions to consider employing their students because there was a track record that their students were working hard and were noncorrupt because of the Christian values that they instill in them.

Dr. Byamukama appealed to the students to continue to uphold the Christian values that define the University and harness the power of education to transform lives and build a brighter, more prosperous future.

Apostle Joseph Sserwadda remarks.

He said the University, established 16 years ago from a small Bible Institute at Gaba with 35 students had grown and boasts of 1,181 students. He said that the University with an ‘Equipping Christian leaders for the transformation of society’ had produced great men and women who have been equipped and sent back to the community to become transformational leaders. 

The function was attended by Bishop Dr. Moses Odongo, the General Overseer of the National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Apostles Alex Mitala and Joseph Sserwadda, and the academia.