By Kabuye Ronald
International Islamic cooperation has taken a significant step toward advancing women’s healthcare education in East Africa with the inauguration of a new medical skills laboratory at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). The $260,000 facility, funded by the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was officially opened at IUIU’s female-only campus in Kabojja.
Dedicated to the Faculty of Health Sciences, the laboratory addresses long-standing infrastructure challenges that have constrained student intake and practical training. Associate Professor Madina Nabukeera, Director of the IUIU Female Campus, described the grant as a transformative intervention.
“Infrastructure constraints—hostels, classrooms, laboratories—have restricted our growth,” she said, noting that half of the total funds have already been disbursed. “This project will significantly strengthen our capacity to train future female doctors, nurses, and public health professionals.”
The inauguration ceremony also highlighted a sustained partnership between the university and the ISF. Representing IUIU management, Professor Ismail Simba Gyagenda recalled that ISF support dates back to 2008, when it helped secure the land on which the campus now stands. Since then, enrollment has grown from about 300 students to more than 1,600.
Professor Gyagenda praised the university’s integrated approach, which combines academic rigor with moral and religious education. He said this model has produced graduates who are both highly employable and widely trusted in society.
That assessment was echoed by H.E. Ambassador Nusurah Tiperu, Chairperson of IUIU’s Estates Committee, who noted that female graduates of the university are among the most disciplined professionals in Uganda’s public and private sectors.
“They are frequently appointed to leadership positions,” she said, linking their success to supportive national policies, including President Yoweri Museveni’s affirmative action program that awards female applicants an additional 1.5 points on university entrance examinations. The policy, she added, has expanded access to higher education while nurturing future leaders.
Beyond infrastructure, university leaders appealed for greater scholarship support, particularly for students displaced by conflict. Professor Nabukeera highlighted the needs of Sudanese students currently assisted by the ISF, calling for expanded humanitarian and educational aid.
The human-centered focus of the project was underscored by H.E. Dr. Saleh Hamad A. Alsuhaiban, ISF Vice President and Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the OIC. “Investing in construction is straightforward,” he said, “but the real investment is in people.” He described education as the most sustainable form of endowment, urging graduates to apply their knowledge for the benefit of their communities.
For the OIC, the project represents the realization of a long-held vision. Professor Dr. Aftab Ahmad Khokher, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology, noted that the concept of IUIU originated decades ago in Pakistan. “Witnessing these developments confirms that the OIC and ISF are honoring their commitments,” he said, calling for continued Muslim unity to drive progress in education and technology. He also pledged to channel further initiatives to the female campus to enhance IUIU’s international standing.
The new laboratory stands as more than a physical structure. It symbolizes a convergence of strategic goals: a women-centered learning environment, a commitment to international educational standards, and the growing role of Islamic philanthropy in Uganda’s development.
At a time when social and economic barriers continue to limit women’s access to education, the initiative demonstrates how targeted funding, institutional commitment, and supportive public policy can cultivate not only facilities, but also the skilled professionals essential to building healthier and more resilient
