Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, Vice Chancellor JKUAT (left) and Dr Martin Kimemia, Vice Chancellor of Mount Kigali University, display a document after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic collaboration on April 21, 2026. Looking on are officials from both institutions. Photo/Courtesy
By Lawrence Ongaro
Mount Kigali University (MKU), Rwanda, and Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have formalised a strategic academic partnership aimed at advancing applied research, innovation, and regional higher education collaboration.
The partnership was sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during an official ceremony held in Kigali. The agreement establishes a framework for joint academic programmes, collaborative research initiatives, and structured faculty and student exchange programmes between the two institutions.
Strengthening academic synergies
The collaboration seeks to enhance 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 unlock new opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty members in both countries.
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The MoU was signed by Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, Vice Chancellor of JKUAT, and Dr. Martin Kimemia, Vice Chancellor of Mount Kigali University.
Speaking during the ceremony, Mount Kigali University Founder and Chairman, Simon Gicharu, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and regional development. He noted that institutions can achieve greater impact when they work together to advance knowledge, research, and skills development.
Leadership vision
Prof. Gicharu emphasised that the partnership is anchored on shared values and a collective vision for regional progress. He observed that institutions stand to achieve far more through collaboration than in isolation, adding that such partnerships are long-term commitments to mutual growth and development.
As part of the event, the MKU Board of Directors also officially handed over the Karembbure Happy Valley university grounds to the Mount Kigali University administration. The facility is set to support academic events, student recreational activities, and extracurricular programmes, contributing to holistic student development and an enriched campus experience.
Support expansion
The grounds will serve both the university and the nearby Kigali Paramount Hotel for recreational and extracurricular use. Prof. Gicharu explained that the land was acquired as a strategic investment to support the institution’s long-term expansion, including providing a permanent venue for academic celebrations and student engagement activities.
He added that the investment in expanded facilities reflects the university’s broader vision of creating an enabling academic environment that supports teaching, research, innovation, and student well-being.
Members of the university community also participated in a tree-planting exercise at the grounds, symbolising growth, continuity, and the institution’s forward-looking vision.
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The MKU–JKUAT partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional academic integration, positioning both universities as key drivers of future-ready education, research excellence, and socio-economic development in East Africa.
Mount Kigali University is a fully-fledged institution of higher learning in Rwanda, committed to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes tailored to meet regional and global workforce demands. Meanwhile, JKUAT remains one of Kenya’s leading public universities, renowned for its focus on science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and applied research.
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