The African Rural University (ARU), a value-based all-women institution, has successfully graduated its 11th cohort of students—now certified Rural Transformation Specialists. The ceremony, held at the ARU graduation grounds, attracted guests from academia, local government, community leaders, and development partners at local, national, and international levels.

The 2025 graduation ceremony was held under the theme;
“Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Rural Transformation.”

This year marks a historic milestone for the university, as ARU conferred degrees upon the first-ever graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture (BSSA).

Top Performers

​Overall Best Candidates (2025 Class)
​Atugonza Doreen (CGPA 4.7)
​Akao Lynn (CGPA 4.4)
​Orikiriza Olivia (CGPA 4.1)
​Best BSSA Candidate (First Cohort)
​
For Bachelor’s of science in sustainable agriculture first cohort, Beatrice Acio emerged the best with a CGPA of 4.4

In his remarks, the guest speaker Dr Robert Jjuuko a researcher and lecturer at gulu university implored the graduates to be life long learners ie embracing the concept of Learning to know learning to do and learning to live together.

He also appreciated ARU’S unique approach to education including the aspect of traditional wisdom specialists who are professors without papers. On subject theme;artificial intelligence, he highlighted opportunities around artificial intelligence like how ai can be used to predict weather forecast and in complementing indigenous knowledge adding that human intelligence remains superior but needs complementary like artificial intelligence

Looking ahead, he proposed aru to set up an artificial intelligence hub to promote rural transformation .

In his remarks, the prof Kyamwamwa aru council chairman congratulated the 2025 class requesting them to be ambassadors of ARU’s unique education model.

“Dear graduaunds as you move into the next phase as rural transformation specialists, remember that you are creators. You carry with you the ARU identity as visionaries who awaken the sleeping genius in every community you touch. You are entering the world as catalysts of rural prosperity, defenders of sustainability, and ambassadors of a new model of African development.”

Prof Kyamwamwa also stated that ARU has continued to excel nationally and globally.
“This year, we proudly celebrate two major recognitions
Our Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, was honoured as Vice Chancellor of the Year, and
ARU received the prestigious Zairi International Community Engagement Award, emerging number one out of over 7,000 universities worldwide.
These awards affirm the strength of ARU’s visionary education model, the dedication of our staff, and the quality of our graduates.” he noted in his remarks