University of Saint Joseph Mbarara
Since 2003 the Archdiocese of Mbarara has pursued establishing a university to serve the community's spiritual and socio-economic development.
Founding Story
Since 2003, the Archdiocese of Mbarara (AOM) has been committed to starting a University as part of its mission and mandate of the church to establish educational institutions of different levels to share in the salvific ministry of Christ by being the salt and light to the world.
In 2009, the Archbishop’s pastoral letter on starting the University of Saint Joseph Mbarara (USJM) stated that this decision should be seen as a pastoral response to growing spiritual and socio-economic challenges in the Archdiocese, Uganda and Africa. The University aims to contribute to improving livelihoods, foster the pastoral mission of the Church, and ground its academic programmes in human and Christian values. The chosen motto is “Foster integrity.”
Milestones
On 19th December 2016, the National Council for Higher Education accepted the application of the Archdiocese of Mbarara to establish and operate a private university in Uganda and granted USJM a Letter of Interim Authority.
After fulfilling all requirements, at its 45th Council Meeting on 27th November 2017, NCHE granted USJM a Provisional License and accredited 11 academic programmes.