Victoria University Chancellor Prof. John Opuda-Asibo has called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be integrated into all university programmes, warning that institutions risk falling behind if they fail to adapt to emerging technologies.
Speaking at the university’s 10th graduation ceremony at Speke Resort Munyonyo,Opuda said universities must regularly review their curricula to keep pace with new fields of study and changing industry demands.
A total of 2,600 students graduated at the ceremony, held under the theme “The Future is Here”, from faculties including Software Engineering, Information Technology, Business, Humanities and Health Sciences.
Opuda said modern disciplines increasingly depend on data and technology, requiring universities to equip students with relevant skills. He urged institutions to teach AI comprehensively, including its benefits, risks and ethical implications.
“If we don’t teach both the power and the danger of AI, we are not preparing students for the real world,” he said.
He also urged graduates to value their education, saying knowledge gives them independence, helps them compete in life and enables them to understand their surroundings.
He challenged them to keep learning, question what they encounter and take responsibility for what they say and write, noting that their communication would shape how others perceive them.
Supporting the Chancellor’s call, Vice Chancellor Dr. Lawrence Muganga warned that Uganda risks falling behind in the AI revolution unless access to digital technology is expanded.
Muganga called on government to introduce a nationwide One Laptop Per Child policy, proposing that every learner from Primary Five to university, including those in technical and vocational institutions, be equipped with a laptop.
He said the initiative would help Uganda achieve its target of a $500 billion economy by 2040 under the Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Muganga also proposed solar-powered laptops and satellite internet to connect learners in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.
“At Victoria University, every programme is now AI-driven. We are not preparing students just to pass examinations, but to live and thrive in an AI economy,” he said.
He revealed that the university’s student population had grown from 180 in 2020 to 16,000 currently, while the number of graduates had increased from 48 in 2021 to 2,600 this year.
Muganga also announced plans to construct a new campus in Naguru, including a teaching hospital for the university’s medical school, with construction expected to begin in January 2027.
