University of Rwanda Celebrates Class of 2026 with Nearly 5,000 Graduates at Historic Rukara Campus Ceremony
KAYONZA, Rwanda — The University of Rwanda held its 12th Conferral Ceremony on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Rukara Campus in Kayonza District, Eastern Province. The event marked the first time the College of Education campus hosted the university’s main graduation, continuing the tradition of rotating the ceremony among its campuses.
Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana presided over the ceremony, which celebrated 4,953 graduands. The cohort included approximately 3,783 undergraduates and 1,170 postgraduates, comprising 1,086 Master’s degrees and a record 49 PhDs. Of the total, 1,917 were women and 3,036 were men.
By college, the graduates were distributed as follows:
University of Rwanda: Graduate Distribution by College
Breakdown of graduates across seven colleges, ranked by number of graduates.
The total was nearly half the 9,526 graduates from the 2025 ceremony at Huye Campus. University officials attributed the drop to reforms introduced in 2022–2023 that standardized all undergraduate programmes to four years. This year’s undergraduate graduands came mainly from pre-existing four-year tracks, while students who transitioned to the new structure have not yet completed their studies. Officials expect numbers to rebound in coming years.
In contrast, postgraduate numbers rose sharply. Vice Chancellor Prof. Didas Kayihura Muganga linked the increase to expanded research opportunities created by faculty securing international grants, which boosted recruitment of Master’s and PhD candidates. A gala dinner the previous evening in Kayonza honoured the 49 PhD graduates and was attended by Chancellor Patricia L. Campbell, the Vice Chancellor, Eastern Province Governor Pudence Rubingisa, and other guests.
Addressing the congregation, Prof. Kayihura described the day as a monumental milestone for both the graduands and the nation. He urged graduates to embrace rapid technological change rather than fear it, calling on them to lead it by adapting, upskilling, and remaining relevant. He also encouraged them to convert their learning into practical solutions and drive innovation in their communities.
The University of Rwanda, the country’s largest public university, enrols more than 30,000 students across seven colleges and nine campuses. Rukara Campus, relocated to Kayonza District in 2017, focuses on training teachers and education professionals.
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