23 graduate at the Islamic Call University

ICU graduants shake hands at their graduation ceremony at UMSC mosque in Old kampala on December 14 2018. (Photo by Karim Ssozi)

By Mubarak Mugabo

EDUCATION -The Islamic Call University (ICU) on Friday passed out 23 graduates of bachelors of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language. ICU's first graduation ceremony was at the University campus located at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Headquarters.

During the colorful event, the chancellor of the University also the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje hailed the students for entrusting ICU with their resources for higher education.
 
Sheikh Mubajje said that students trusted the university even when it was only offering degree courses. He revealed that the University will also continue offering many secular courses.

"This University will not only teach Islam, but also offer more secular programs to support Government and its programs," Mubajje said.
 
ICU was established in 2011 as a private University with only one National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) accredited academic undergraduate degree.

According to the University Vice Chancellor, Dr.Hussein Muhammad Bowa, ICU is now offering more academic programs accredited by NCHE in 2017/18 academic year.

The University raised the number of courses to fourteen (14) including Business Administration, Human Resource management and procurement among others.
 
ICU also awarded Islamic Studies and Arabic language certificates to 71 students.
 
The state Minister for higher Education, Dr. John. C. Muyingo, who was represented by the assistant commissioner for higher education Dr. Muzamir Muwatampola, urged ICU to engage the private sector in designing academic programs for a skillful labor force.

Apart from noting the need for passing out graduates with skills, Muyingo applauded ICU for complementing government in offering higher education.

"As a country, you are aware we have been accused of poor quality graduates who lack the actual skills required for the job market. Government encourages ICU to closely work with the private sector in designing programs which will give necessary skills for the market,"said Muyingo.
 




 (L-R) Muzamilu Mukwatampola from the Ministry of Education and Sports and University Council Chairman Eng.Badru Kiggundu at the  1st graduation ceremony at UMSC mosque in Old kampala on December 14 2018. (Photo by Karim Ssozi)

ICU's financial need
The Chairman of the university Governing council, Eng. Badru Kiggundu asked all Muslims and well-wishers to come to the rescue of the university's financial need.

"We launched a fundraising program for ICU last December and we have managed to collect sh24m. We are in need of more money for the University's operations," said Kiggundu.

ICU was established as a branch of the Islamic Call University of Libya with the blessing of the former Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi who had pledged to support the university in most of its financial and logistical needs.

ICU suffered a setback when Gaddafi was killed in 2011, the same year ICU was licensed by NCHE to start its operations.

The world Islamic Call Society of Libya owning ICU-Tripoli which was funded by Ghaddafi couldn't fulfil his pledge according Mufti Mubajje.

 ICU's Chancellor Sheikh Ramadhan Mubajje gives a speech at Islamic Call Univesity College graduation cermony at UMSC mosque in Old kampala on December 14 2018. (Photo by Karim Ssozi)

Muyingo urged ICU to tap into the opportunities put in place by government, like the students loan scheme established in 2014.

"The University should encourage parents and students to take advantage of this scheme," Muyingo advised. He urged ICU to organize itself in investing in priorities which yield quality graduates.

The University is currently using facilities of the UMSC mosque but with the growing number of students, the facilities can no longer accommodate them.

Amidst financial challenges, the university is proposing new structures on its land at UMSC headquarters, Mukono Kiyunga, the proposed university main campus and City campus in Mutungo Biina.

ICU is the third Islamic University in Uganda after Islamic University in Uganda and Kampala University.