BY OLIVER MUSEMBI
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has formalized a strategic academic partnership with a Rwandan institution aimed at boosting research and innovation.
The agreement with Mount Kigali University (MKU–Rwanda) seeks to advance applied research, innovation, and regional collaboration in higher education. The partnership was sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kigali.
The MoU establishes a framework for joint academic programmes, collaborative research initiatives, and structured faculty and student exchange between the two institutions.
It also aims to strengthen training in industrial and applied research while promoting cross-border knowledge sharing and innovation within the East African region.
By combining JKUAT’s strengths in science, technology, and engineering with Mount Kigali University’s growing academic and research portfolio, the partnership is expected to create new opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty in both countries.
The agreement was signed by JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof Victoria Wambui Ngumi and her MKU–Rwanda counterpart, Dr Martin Kimemia.
Speaking during the ceremony, Mount Kigali University Founder and Chairman Prof Simon Gicharu said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and regional development.
“This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in higher education. Institutions can achieve greater impact when they work together to advance knowledge, research, and skills development for the region,” he said.
He added that partnerships are not merely formal agreements but long-term commitments to shared growth.
“It demonstrates that institutions can achieve far more when they work together than when they operate independently. Partnerships are not just agreements—they are commitments to grow together,” he noted.
As part of the event, the university’s Board of Directors also officially handed over the Karembure Happy Valley grounds to the administration.
The facility will support academic events, student recreational activities, and extracurricular programmes, contributing to holistic student development and enhanced campus life.
Prof Gicharu said the land was acquired as a strategic investment to support the university’s long-term growth and provide a permanent venue for academic celebrations and student activities.
He noted that the expansion of facilities underscores the institution’s vision to create an enabling academic environment that supports teaching, research, innovation, and student well-being.
Gicharu further described the partnership as a significant milestone in strengthening regional academic integration, positioning both universities as key contributors to future-ready education, research excellence, and socio-economic development in East Africa.
