On a sun-drenched campus overlooking Lake Victoria, a group of young women in crisp white chef’s jackets gathered this week to witness the inauguration of a facility that university leaders hope will transform lives while contributing to national development.
The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) officially inaugurated its new Culinary Arts Academy at the Female Campus in Kabojja, a project funded by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Speaking on behalf of IUIU Rector Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, Dr. Jamil Sserwanga described the academy as far more than a training kitchen, calling it “a bridge connecting academic knowledge with practical expertise.”
“The culinary arts have long been a cornerstone of economic development and cultural exchange,” Prof. Gyagenda said in his speech. “This academy is an investment in the hands and minds of our female students, equipping them not only for employment but also for entrepreneurship and leadership in the hospitality industry.”
The academy is equipped with modern gastronomy facilities, including industrial refrigerators, deep freezers, and professional cooking equipment designed to simulate a commercial kitchen environment and provide students with industry-standard training.
The project marks another milestone in the growing partnership between IUIU and the Republic of Türkiye. The Rector noted that the university has signed several Memoranda of Understanding with Turkish universities and organizations, including the SENA Foundation, to enhance academic collaboration and institutional development.
“Every investment in education is an investment in peace, prosperity, and sustainable development,” he said.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Uganda, Mehmet Fatih Ak, echoed that message, saying the project reflects Türkiye’s commitment to sustainable development through investment in education and human capital.
For students, the academy represents a significant step forward in expanding practical learning opportunities. However, IUIU’s Director of the Female Campus, Prof. Madinah Nabukeera Ssebyala, said additional investments remain essential to fully realize the campus’s potential.
She highlighted the urgent need to renovate aging student residences and establish modern laboratories for Nursing, Midwifery, and the core sciences—Biology, Chemistry, and Physics—to help meet Uganda’s growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals.
“We envision this campus as a leading Centre of Excellence,” Prof. Ssebyala said. “But we cannot achieve that without the basic infrastructure that provides our students with a dignified learning environment and strengthens our science and health training programs.”
As students prepared traditional Ugandan dishes in the academy’s newly equipped kitchens, the facility symbolized more than culinary education. It represented new opportunities for young women, strengthened educational cooperation between Uganda and Türkiye, and a shared commitment to building practical skills that can drive economic growth and community development.
