Kabale University Hits Record Student Enrollment of 5,450 in a Single Academic Year

Kabale University has reported a total enrollment of 5,450 students, the highest number in a single academic year since its founding in 2002, according to officials.

This milestone was disclosed yesterday, during the orientation ceremony for new students at the Kabale-based institution.

Although the final number of students admitted this year has not yet been confirmed, as more students were still reporting at the time of the orientation, official figures indicated that as of August 26, 2025, over 2,500 new students had reported, bringing the total enrollment for the academic year to 5,450.

The Academic Registrar, Mr. Narcircir Tibenderana, described this as a significant achievement for the university, which began as a community institution with only 42 students in 2002 before transitioning into a public university in 2015.

Mr. Tibenderana attributed the surge in student enrollment to the university’s new status as a public institution and the increased media visibility that came with it. By 2015, when the government took over Kabale University, annual enrollment figures ranged between 1,000 and 1,500 students.

Of course, when the government took over, everything changed. The number of academic staff increased, learning facilities improved, and we established a well-facilitated Communications Department that has actively promoted the university’s brand in partnership with the local and National media houses, Tibenderana stated.

He also highlighted some of the university’s academic achievements and external recognition, including the July 2025 Webometrics report, which ranked Kabale University sixth in Uganda and 2,518th globally, an improvement from seventh in Uganda and 5,001st worldwide in July 2024.

Tibenderana further noted that the majority of students registered this year are in the Faculty of Education, particularly those majoring in sciences.

There are about 1,500 new students in Education alone, with most of them focusing on sciences, as government policies currently favor scientists, he explained.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sabiti Makara, who heads the Directorate of Graduate Studies, urged the new students to aim for top career positions after their studies by working diligently to achieve good academic grades. He also encouraged them to aspire to academic excellence, such as becoming professors.

The university’s Deputy Secretary, Peace Tindyebwa, advised students to avoid joining negative groups, reminding them that each individual is responsible for their own time at the university.

It’s okay to socialize and network, but choose your friends carefully. You came here alone, and you will leave alone. No one else’s name will appear on your academic transcript, she cautioned.

Meanwhile, the Head of Communications at Kabale University, Mr. Godfrey Ssempungu, urged students to avoid misinformation by regularly checking the university’s official website and social media channels.

That website has almost everything you need to know about the university. You can also verify information through our official social media accounts to avoid any misleading details, Ssempungu advised.

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