The Universities History

Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) was established in 1989 following a statute of the National Resistance Council, the then legislative body in Uganda. This was  In response to government’s realization that higher education was a critical asset for nation building, at a time when Uganda’s economy and social infrastructure had collapsed, due to  civil wars in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

MUST was established in the premises of Mbarara School of Midwifery and Mbarara District hospital. The university under the able leadership of the Vice Chancellor Professor Frederick I.B Kayanja, in collaboration with 4 Cuban professors started the pioneer Faculty of Medicine with   43 students admitted to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) program.

The University has now expanded to two other faculties, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Development Studies. The university also has two institutes, Institute of Computer Science and Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC). ITFC is based in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The University plans to move to a spacious and planned campus at Kihumuro in the near future.