IUIU launches Habib medical school

The dean Habib Medical School, Dr Hakim Sendagire (R), speaks to guests during the official opening of the newly constructed medical school at IUIU, Kampala campus, on Tuesday.
PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE

What you need to know:

The medical school becomes the sixth to be opened in the country

Kampala.

The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) has commissioned Habib Medical School to train doctors, a move aimed at building capacity for the health sector which is grappling with shortage of human resource, especially doctors.

According to the annual health sector performance report of 2013/2014, out of the 1,218 staffing norm for the Ministry of Health, only 941 doctors were currently employed in various government hospitals, which translates into a shortage of 227 doctors.
With opening of a new medical school, the university administration hopes to boost the current workforce in the near future after graduating its pioneer students.

“The IUIU Habib Medical School we are officially opening today started on October 27, 2014, with 55 pioneer students. They will be starting their end of first semester examinations very soon,” Dr Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, the Rector of IUIU, said during the launch in Kampala on Tuesday.

The school is part of IUIU’s expansion programme which also includes the creation of the Faculty of Engineering in 2015.

Kibuli Muslim Hospital will be used as the teaching hospital by the medical school.

According to President Museveni’s speech, read on his behalf by Minister of State for foreign affairs, Mr Asuman Kiyingi as the chief guest, Habib Medical School is the sixth medical school to be opened in Uganda.