East African Christian College expands HE sector

A new private Christian college that will offer theology degrees has opened in Kigali, Rwanda. The East African Christian College, owned by the Anglican Church in Rwanda, will be able to train leaders of churches and faith-based organisations, who are legally required to have bachelor degrees in religious studies to head these organisations.

The institution was launched on 16 March. It is located on the outskirts of Kigali in Masaka sector in the Gasabo district.

The launch follows only a few months after the cabinet approved a ministerial order granting the East African Christian College and the Africa College of Theology permission to operate amid increasingly stricter regulation of the private higher education sector.

The first cohort of about 300 students includes people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Uganda, South Sudan and Seychelles. The university offered scholarships to two students of each of the countries.

Preachers and pastors of various churches, who are in the group, expressed optimism about the university.

“I am optimistic that the university will help me acquire theology knowledge and wisdom … [and that] I also fulfil the requirement by the government to hold a degree in theology,” said Reverend Marc Habarurema from Disaka Parish in the Rusizi district of Rwanda.

The result of ongoing efforts

According to Reverend Laurent Mbanda, archbishop of the Anglican Church in Rwanda and the East African Christian College’s legal representative, the university was the result of ongoing efforts by Anglican leaders.

Mbanda also hailed the support and guidance from the Rwanda Ministry of Education, through the Higher Education Council, to ensure that the college obtained full accreditation to operate.

“This campus is completed due to the efforts of many of us ... We are grateful and I thank everyone who contributed,” he said.

Mbanda said Professor Viateur Ndikumana, the vice-chancellor, was experienced and dedicated to higher education, which is why he was at the right place to develop the new university.

Plans to expand offerings

Mbanda said that the university would help to produce quality graduates to lead churches and other faith-based organisations.

The legal requirement of degreed church leaders was introduced following instances in which churches and faith-based organisations were poorly managed as a result of lack of sound leadership and managerial skills.

“We look forward to having a theological, education and midwifery department. We want to expand the college to grow and become a sustainable and excellent university,” said Mbanda.

According to Mbanda, the Anglican Church now had three higher learning institutions, including Muhabura Integrated Polytechnic College, based in Musanze district, and Hanika Anglican Integrated Polytechnic.