Mbale City, Uganda: The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) has conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) on Jessica Alupo Rose Epel, Uganda’s Vice President, in recognition of her distinguished military, academic and political service, as the institution graduated 2,484 students in various academic disciplines.
The honorary award was presented during IUIU’s 34th graduation ceremony held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the university’s Mbale campus. Vice President Alupo, who also serves as the Katakwi District Woman Member of Parliament, received the university’s highest honour for what IUIU described as exceptional contribution to national development and societal transformation.
Speaking on behalf of the University Council Chairperson, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Jamil Sserwanga, said the award recognised Alupo’s over 27-year professional journey, including her five-year tenure as Vice President since June 2021.
“This award is being made in recognition of her distinguished professional and academic career, her service to the nation, and her commitment to leadership, education and gender equity,” Sserwanga said.
He noted that IUIU is founded on pillars of academic excellence, moral uprightness and service to humanity, values he said are embodied in Alupo’s career as a soldier, scholar, stateswoman and advocate for African empowerment.
At the ceremony, the university graduated 432 postgraduates, including five PhD holders. Academic results included 200 First Class degrees and 673 Second Class Upper awards, with female graduands accounting for over 51 per cent of the total, surpassing their male counterparts.
Sserwanga highlighted Alupo’s academic research on East African integration and refugee women as aligning with IUIU’s mission of addressing regional and global challenges through research and innovation. He also cited her service in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, where she specialised in military intelligence and training, as proof of discipline-driven leadership.
In her political career, Alupo was praised for her tenure as Minister of Education and Sports, during which she represented Uganda at the World Education Forum and UNESCO assemblies.
“This graduation, where the majority of graduands are female, and the conferment of this award, strongly affirms IUIU’s commitment to gender equity and female academic excellence,” Sserwanga added.
While representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Vice President Alupo reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting higher education, research, innovation and digital infrastructure to prepare young people for the global market.
“We shall continue supporting research and innovation to ensure our youth remain competitive and relevant,” she said.
Alupo urged graduates to embrace hard work, responsible living and lifelong learning, cautioning against what she termed destructive ideologies and irresponsible lifestyles that could undermine national progress.
“We cannot invest in you only to end up disappointed. Live responsibly, stay healthy and use your knowledge to transform society,” she said.
She commended IUIU Rector Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda and the University Council Chairperson Muhammad Abdulrazaq Sayyid Ebrahim A. Altabtabael for steering the institution’s growth, including the commissioning of the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Alupo also applauded the university’s stable academic environment, noting the absence of strikes and calling for continued adherence to moral and spiritual values to nurture a corruption-free generation.
Representing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Aftab Ahmed Khokher, Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology, commended Uganda’s peaceful environment, which he said has enabled IUIU to thrive despite global socio-economic challenges.
Rector Gyagenda revealed that IUIU’s student population has grown from about 8,000 to over 14,457 students across four campuses, with 96 fully accredited academic programmes currently running. He added that five new postgraduate programmes were introduced in the 2024/2025 academic year, with 17 more awaiting accreditation.
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