Inter-University Council of East Africa to Key into New Headquarters in January 2025. They Hope

The Inter-University Council for East Africa is expecting to be moving into its new headquarters in January 2025.

That came to light in Uganda where the Inter-University Council for East Africa held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the second phase of the structure that will be the IUCEA complex in Kampala.

The construction project being executed at the cost of USD 8.4 million is expected to be ready for occupation within 18 months from July 2023, which sets the date to sometime in January 2025.

The Ugandan First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga who graced the groundbreaking ceremony held at the IUCEA Headquarters in Kampala, reiterated the commitment of East African Community countries to support the council to deliver its mandate including implementation of EAC Common Higher Education Area.

 She commended IUCEA for supporting regional integration through harmonization and quality assurance of higher education systems and supporting regional mobility of staff and students in universities and other tertiary institutions.

“Higher Education should ensure increased access to relevant education, improve competitiveness of graduates, ensure comparability and acceptability of qualifications and graduates,” Kadaga said.

 The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by high-level dignitaries from all EAC Partner States.

 The Executive Director, Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), Wanjiru Mwita, who represented the EAC Secretary General, said the new facilities will enhance collaboration among higher education institutions through research and innovation.

 On his part the Executive Secretary, IUCEA, Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona appreciated the Government and the citizens of Uganda for the support they have given IUCEA over the years.

“I wish to pay special tribute to the Government of Republic of Uganda, our host through the Ministry of Education and Sports, for offering to IUCEA this land on which our offices sit and in which we shall witness the groundbreaking ceremony,” Prof Banyankimbona said.

 The Deputy Chairperson, IUCEA Executive Committee, Prof John Mugisha, said he hoped the new building will provide facilities that can be used by universities, researchers, and all other stakeholders to advance quality higher education and integration agenda.

 The IUCEA new building facility will sit on part of the 5-acre piece of land at Kyambogo Hill in Kampala.

The facility will include offices, a resource center, innovation and incubation center for research, a cafeteria, a conference hall, and a data center.

The land was offered by the Government of Uganda as part of its commitment to host the body as an institution of EAC.