Eight Ugandans graduate from Al-Azhar University
Ahmed Idriss
Eight Ugandans marked an academic milestone on Friday, November 28th, 2025, as they graduated from various faculties of the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. The cohort included three women and five men, all of whom have pursued programs in Islamic studies and related disciplines.
Among the graduates, Sheikhs Mapesa Afani Uthman, Sheikh Ibrahim Kikomeko, Shafik Bunnya—who previously graduated in the Faculty of Islamic Law (Sharia) and recently earned a diploma in Islamic Banking—Sheikhat Nassozi Halimah, completed their studies in the Faculty of Islamic Law (Sharia).
Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdallah Thabit Kyagulanyi graduated from the Faculty of Fundamentals and Religion (Usuul-deen), Sheikh Ssozi Abdulsalam from the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, and Sheikh Hassan Sabwe from the Faculty of Arabic Language.
The graduation ceremony, held at the Golden Palace Hall in Sakr Kureish, Maadi, was graced by Hajji Ahmad Sserwadda, Head of the Consular Department at the Ugandan Embassy in Egypt, who represented the Ambassador.
Hajji Sserwadda congratulated the graduates for their dedication and hard work, urging them to continue contributing to their communities.
Addressing the graduates, Hajji Sserwadda said, “I encourage those of you willing to continue your studies to pursue a master’s program and further strengthen your knowledge.”
For graduates not planning to pursue a master’s, he offered practical guidance: “For those who want to return home, the first step is to translate your academic papers into English, as it is the language used in Uganda. Then, have them certified and translated at Makerere Language School. By following these steps, you can integrate smoothly into Uganda’s system, because Al-Azhar is an internationally recognized chartered university.”
Bilal Ziraba, the General Secretary of Ugandan Students at Al-Azhar University, noted that there are currently 117 Ugandan students enrolled at the university, highlighting Uganda’s growing presence in one of the world’s leading centers of Islamic education.
