Photos: Uganda Christian University Launches Medical School

Uganda Christian University launched the UCU School of Medicine (UCUSoM) on Friday September 14^th, 2018 at the Archbishop’s Gardens in Namirembe.

The launch followed the accreditation of her medical programs by the National Council for Higher Education at the beginning of 2018 and the admission of her pioneer Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBchB) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students in August 2018.

The new school is run in conjunction with Mengo Hospital which doubles as the university teaching hospital.

The function was presided over by Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda.

A total of 62 students make up the pioneer Uganda Christian University School of Medicine (UCUSoM) classes. They are 35 female and 27 male students.

They joined the university on August 20, 2018 and started classes a week later on August 28, 2018 following successful orientation sessions.

According to information from the office of the academic registrar, majority of the students (53) are doing Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) while nine students are doing Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). Some 56 students are admitted on direct entry category while six had diplomas in Nursing or Allied Health professions at distinction levels.

They joined UCU, following the accreditation of UCU to teach MBChB and BDS in February 2018, bringing to an end UCU’s quest to start teaching medical programs.

Most of the students (55) are Ugandans. The rest of the students are from Eritrea (1), Tanzania (1), Kenya (1), South Sudan (2) and Nigeria (2), signifying the rich diversity and aspiration of UCU to be the ‘Centre of Excellence in the Heart of Africa’.

The 62 students were chosen from over 700 applicants who aspired to be enrolled on the new courses.

In attendance was the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Chancellor Uganda Christian University, The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, UCU Vice Chancellor Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi among other dignitaries.

Below are photos of what happened at the launch