His Highness the Aga Khan receives Ugandan honour

His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, was today conferred with the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Master), Uganda’s highest civilian honour, by His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The decoration recognises His Highness’s distinguished services to the nation and his leadership in advancing social and economic development.

Princess Zahra was also honoured with the Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa (Grand Commander) in recognition of her long-standing contributions to health, education and women’s empowerment.

The ceremony took place during a landmark event at the Aga Khan University (AKU) campus in Nakawa, Kampala, where major new investments in higher education and healthcare were inaugurated. Her Excellency the First Lady, the Honourable Janet Museveni, was also present at the ceremony along with Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan.

The Ismaili Imamat and AKDN’s enduring partnership with Uganda was previously recognised in 2017, when His Late Highness Aga Khan IV received the Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa from President Museveni.

Inauguration of new AKU campus facilities

The award ceremony coincided with the official opening of the first phase of AKU’s 60-acre Kampala campus in Nakawa. Facilities include a seven-storey University Centre, a nine-storey student housing building accommodating 164 students, and a four-storey ambulatory care facility, the Nakawa Specialty Medical Centre. At full capacity, the campus will host 100 faculty and 700 students, including Uganda’s first cohort of students in AKU’s new four-year Bachelor of Nursing Science programme, which begins later this month. This builds on the foundation of AKU’s nursing programmes that have graduated more than 1,500 Ugandan nurses through its earlier degree and diploma programmes.

The campus, built on land generously provided by the Government of Uganda, has been made possible through the support of AKU’s Chancellor, generous donors, and funding from the German Government’s BMZ and KfW.

“Ugandans deserve the very best access to international quality higher education and health care. … I am confident that the leaders emerging from this institution will advance individual well-being and national progress in fulfillment of the steadfast vision and enduring support that have brought us to this moment,” said His Highness the Aga Khan.