College of Medicine and Health Sciences

Remera Campus women's volleyball team excels in varsity league

Darius — 2026-02-05T16:44:56Z

UR- Remera Campus women's volleyball team delivered an impressive performance in the ongoing varsity league, a national competition bringing together 22 teams from universities across the country. In one of the key matches, the Remera Campus team defeated Tumba College, placing itself in a strong position as the tournament progresses.

Angelique Nyirahabyarimana, a Level 4 student in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at UR Remera Campus and the team captain, highlighted the motivational impact of the university leagues on student athletes.

“This league shows that sports are highly valued at the University of Rwanda. As a team captain, seeing leaders and principals from different campuses supporting the games encourages us to give our best. Demonstrating commitment in these leagues can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Remera Campus women team placed itself in a strong position as the tournament progresses after defeating Tumba College,

According to Albert Kayiranga, in charge of Sports, Culture, and Entertainment at the University of Rwanda, the competition brings together 22 teams, including both men's and women's teams, from various UR campuses. He noted that the tournament aims to assess team participation, evaluate the organization of the games, and identify areas for improvement.

The inter-campus volleyball tournament reflects UR's commitment to holistic student development. By promoting talent, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and fostering unity among students from different campuses, the University continues to position sports as a vital pillar of campus life.

Through initiatives in sports, culture, and entertainment, the University of Rwanda remains dedicated to nurturing well-rounded graduates while strengthening cohesion and school spirit across its campuses.

CMHS Partners with PABIN and SIDCER on Ethical Review Evaluation

webmaster — 2025-12-05T13:56:00Z

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the University of Rwanda's College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS) is an independent ethics committee that reviews and approves research projects submitted by CMHS students and staff, to protect the rights, safety, and welfare of research participants. The IRB is managed by the Center for Research and Innovation (CRI), a body dedicated to providing concrete support to UR-based investigators.
From October 27–30th, 2025, the CMHS-IRB and CRI welcomed members from the Pan African Bioethics Initiative (PABIN) and the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER) to the UR-CMHRemera Campus. PABIN and SIDCER are international bodies that are appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to evaluate and recognize ethics committees(EC) on the continent. The purpose of their visit to Rwanda was to deliver a program on “Surveying and Evaluating Ethical Review Practices” for institutional and national ethics committee members. This program - the first of its kind since the CMHS-IRB was established back 2014 - consisted of a training workshop and in-depth assessments of the ethics review systems, followed by a feedback session where PABIN and SIDCER provided valuable recommendations for strengthening ethical review practices at the institutional and national levels.

On October 27th, PABIN and SIDCER delivererd a training workshop, with the purpose of strengthening ethical review in health research by equipping ethics committee members with the knowledge and tools to survey and evaluate ethics committees against international benchmarks, while remaining responsive to local context. The workshop was attended by members of the Rwanda National Ethics Committee (RNEC), the UR-IRB and IRBs of Rwanda's major hospitals (University Teaching Hospital of Kigali [CHUK], University Teaching Hospital of Butare [CHUB], Rwanda Military Hospital [RMH], and King Faisal Hospital [KFH]). The workshop clarified the role of surveyors and evaluators for ethics committees, developed context appropriate methods for survey and evaluation, and ultimately, prepared our ethics committees to operate at international standards (set by WHO, WMA, CIOMS, and ICH GCP).

From October 28th-30th, the visiting PABIN and SIDCER team conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the UR CMHS IRB, in which they reviewed procedures and documentation, as well as observed an IRB board meeting. They conducted a similar, in depth evaluation with RNEC from October 31 – November 3rd, where evaluators comprehensively went through RNEC's governing legislation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), processes, and documentation. On November 4th, after the two evaluations, the PABIN and SIDCER evaluators led a feedback session where they provided practical recommendations to support timely, high quality ethics review at institutional and national level, and reinforce alignment with international standards. The IRBs and RNEC expressed appreciation for the feedback and confirmed their commitment to implementing the recommendations to further professionalize their services, affirming their dedication to continuous improvement in ethics review and governance.

The workshop and evaluation were made possible by effective coordination across units and partners. The CRI would like to recognise Mr. Emile Nisingizwe and Mr. Sunday Francois Xavier for their efforts to organise the program, coordinating with ethics committees and collaborating organizations to ensure a focused, productive visit. They were supported by Ms. Belyse Ishimwe, who led the administrative and logistics arrangements.

This visit marks an important step in advancing ethics review practice within UR CMHS and nationally. By combining training with hands on evaluation, the engagement delivered actionable recommendations and a shared understanding of what strong, reliable ethics oversight looks like in day to day work. RNEC and the IRBs' members' receptiveness to the evaluation findings, and their stated commitment to implementing improvements, reflects a shared goal : professionalizing ethics services so that health research in Rwanda is reviewed efficiently, transparently, and to recognized international standards.

Training workshop participants from different Ethics Committees with trainers from PABIN and SIDCER

One Child, One Tree : Encouraging climate resilience through education in Rwanda

webmaster — 2025-10-13T09:35:08Z

Environmental education is an increasingly prominent issue as the importance of building climate-resilient communities around the world becomes more urgent. In Rwanda, Professor Ricardo Sabates has been part of a team exploring the impact and potential of a Cambridge-backed project called “One Child, One Tree” (OCOT), which aims to engage school children in nature-based education through tree planting.

OCOT is an initiative run by the Mental Health and Behaviour Research Group at the University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences. It aims to encourage a natural instinct to protect nature among children, while also promoting their psychosocial wellbeing and bringing communities together through the shared activity of tree-planting.

The initiative is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and Cambridge's Climate Resilience and Sustainability Research Fund. Ricardo is part of the team exploring the educational component of the intervention and its potential for adaptations to achieve scale, and was involved in a series of meetings and workshops on OCOT in Rwanda earlier this month.

Preliminary research findings on the intervention suggest it is making a positive change in environmental stewardship and the psychosocial well-being of participating children. OCOT is not the only organisation focusing on these issues in the region, and the team also visited a school supported by ARCOS, an organisation which encourages the greening and beautification of schools, conservation and restoration, kitchen gardens and school production supporting the families of the most disadvantaged students. Meetings also took place with experts from the University of Rwanda's College of Education to discuss environmental education in primary school curricula and potential alignment with the OCOT initiative, while a whole-day workshop also explored future scalability. The team also met government officials to discuss alignment with wider education policy in Rwanda.

UR-Remera Campus donates a fully furnished house to a Genocide Survivor

webmaster — 2025-10-05T19:51:59Z

UR – College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS), Remera Campus, donated a fully furnished house to a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The initiative was spearheaded by staff at the Remera Campus, who joined hands to demonstrate the university's commitment to community engagement and social responsibility.

In his remarks, Prof. Abraham Haileamlak Mitike, Principal of UR-CMHS, emphasized that one of the college's key objectives is to reach out to communities through social support, the provision of health expertise, and various outreach activities.

The beneficiary, Vestine Nikuze expressed deep gratitude and joy for what she described as a life-changing donation. She thanked everyone who contributed to making the project a reality.

The support package included the construction of a fully furnished house, a water storage tank, household utensils, and financial assistance ; all valued at 38 million Rwandan francs.
The success of the project was also made possible through collaboration with local authorities, particularly the sector and district offices, which helped identify the family most in need of the support.

Present at the handover ceremony were Françoise Kayitare, UR Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, the Vice Mayor of the City of Kigali in charge of Economic and Social Affairs, Gasabo District Executive Administrator, the Head of the Reserve Force in Gasabo District, the District Police Commander (DPC), representatives from IBUKA, UR-CMHS staff, and neighbors of the beneficiary.

Eric Mugisha
Communication officer

From Sudan to Rwanda : How UR became Fadwa Ragab's second home

webmaster — 2025-09-05T09:52:21Z

In recent years, statistics show that the number of international students coming to Rwanda particularly to the University of Rwanda has risen significantly, as they seek quality higher education in various disciplines.

Ragab believes UR has given her a second home and the courage to dream again ; bigger and more fearlessly than before - Copy

The UR Insight Newsletter caught up with Fadwa Ragab, a medical student from Sudan, who shared her experience of studying at UR.

The UR Insight : How did you find yourself in medical studies ?

Ragab : I dedicated my life to studying Medicine, driven by an unwavering dream to become a doctor. But when war broke out in my country, my world collapsed. I lost everything and was forced to abandon my studies. It was devastating, yet I refused to let the war extinguish my dreams.

The UR Insight : How did you join UR, and how do you find your studies here ?

Ragab : That resilience led me to Rwanda and the University of Rwanda (UR). Here, I found more than just education ; I found hope and a chance to revive my passion. Rwanda's peace, the kindness of its people, and the academic excellence of UR gave me the courage to begin again.

Now, I am proudly continuing my medical studies. To me, Medicine is more than a career ; it is a calling that unites science, compassion, and service. The training and inspiring environment at UR are shaping me into a skilled and empathetic future doctor, ready to make a meaningful impact.

The UR Insight : What extracurricular activities are you keen on ?

Ragab : Outside the classroom, I express myself through art and handmade crafts. Back in Sudan, I even ran a small gift shop, which taught me creativity, patience, and the joy of sharing happiness with others. These skills continue to inspire me alongside my medical studies.

The UR Insight : How did you adapt to life and culture in Rwanda ?

Ragab : Adjusting to a new country was not easy. Being far from my family, facing cultural differences, and sometimes struggling with language were real challenges. But with determination and the support of lecturers at UR, I overcame them and grew stronger. I also value the quality of teaching at UR and the availability of facilities that make learning effective and enjoyable.

The UR Insight : What message would you like to share with our readers ?

Ragab : Today, I stand not as a victim of circumstance, but as a testament to resilience and renewal. UR has not only educated me but has also given me a second home and the courage to dream again ; bigger and more fearlessly than before.

The African Pharmaceutical Symposium returns to Rwanda in 2026

webmaster — 2025-09-05T09:45:23Z

For the second time in history, Rwanda's Pharmaceutical Students' Association (RPSA) will host the 14th edition of the African Pharmaceutical Symposium (AfPS), a flagship event of the International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF) in Africa. The event is set to welcome students, professionals, academics, innovators, and investors from across the continent to discuss the development of the pharmaceutical sector.

The symposium is organized annually by International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation-African Regional Office (IPSF AfRO) and hosted by a member country that wins the hosting bid. Since its launch in Algeria 2011, it has been held in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda. In 2024, Rwanda's bid for 2026 was accepted and later adopted by the IPSF AfRO Regional Assembly in Harare 2025.

Hosting the 4th symposium back in 2014 opened doors for RPSA to organize more international events. Three years later, the association hosted the World Healthcare Students' Summit 2017, followed by the IPSF World Congress 2019. In addition, RPSA organized annual symposia, reaching their 14th edition in 2025.

UR has set a strong benchmark in supporting pharmacy students' participation in international conferences. Recently, Gedeon Mbonabucya (former RPSA President, Chairperson of AfPS 2026) and Sano Samuel (Chairperson of IPSF AfRO 2024–2025) represented Rwanda at the AfPS 2025 in Harare and the IPSF World Congress in Nairobi.
This follows Rwanda's success at the AfPS 2024 in Sierra Leone, where the winning bid to host AfPS 2026 was presented. With the university's guidance, RPSA prepared the bid and later submitted a progressive preparation report in Harare, reaffirming university leadership in empowering young pharmacists to contribute to global pharmaceutical advancement.

RPSA Delegation to IPSF WC in Nairobi, kenya

UR-College of Medicine hosts Rwanda Jefferson Day Conference

webmaster — 2025-08-06T13:34:02Z

Healthcare professionals, students, educators, and global health leaders gathered for the Rwanda-Jefferson Day conference, hosted by the University of Rwanda's College of Medicine and Health Sciences (UR-CMHS). The event celebrated the power of bidirectional exchange between UR and Thomas Jefferson University (USA), highlighting 18 years of impactful collaboration in healthcare education.

Held under the theme “Bridging Borders in Healthcare, Strengthening Global Learning,” the conference served as a platform to reflect on shared experiences, recognize key contributions, and exchange best practices. This long-standing partnership allows Jefferson students to participate in a one-month public health education program in Rwanda, engaging in community health initiatives alongside their Rwandan peers. In turn, UR students undertake a two-month clinical observership at Jefferson, gaining valuable experience in a diverse healthcare environment.

The conference was officiated by UR's Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, Dr. Françoise Kayitare, who emphasized the importance of broadening the partnership to include academic programs beyond the field of medicine.

Since 2007, the exchange has strengthened professional ties, enhanced cross-cultural learning, and contributed to global health equity. To date, more than 115 students and faculty from Jefferson and over 45 students, researchers, and faculty from UR have taken part in the program.

During the event, partners also discussed future directions and explored ways to expand knowledge-sharing opportunities. The program's success over the years has been largely supported by funding from Thomas Jefferson University. Going forward, participants expressed the need to explore additional co-funding strategies to ensure the program's long-term sustainability.

New AHOP policy brief presents strategies to address health worker attrition in Rwanda

webmaster — 2025-04-02T14:41:44Z

The policy brief which is co-authored by UR researchers under the African Health Observatory – Platform on Health Systems and Policies (AHOP), states that, despite progress, Rwanda's high level of staff attrition amongst health workers remains a major challenge to the public health sector, directly impacting the quality of care and delivery of health services.

The CMHS dental school received a donation of equipment.

webmaster — 2023-03-21T08:03:25Z

The demand for dental services and care grows faster than the supply chain of professionals and specialists needed in the sector. The UR dental clinic based at Remera Campus recently received a donation from dentists without borders based in Denmark, the digital equipment will serve clients/patients and students with more efficiency and precision as well as cutting short the time spent on consultation and treatment for the patients at the college dental clinic.

The donation included a scanner, a laptop, sprint ray 3D printer, Pro washer dry machine, crown resin and a resin tank with accompanying accessories. They were received by the college Principal Prof. Abraham HA. MITIKE who thanked the partners including SoS children's villages for the continued support to the School of dentistry.

A team from dentists without borders based in Denmark handed over the donation

CMHS dental school recieves a donation of equipment

Principal Prof. Abraham recieved the equipment

Welcome to UR-CMHS Prof. Erik PERJONS from CEBE/UR SIDA

2023-03-01T12:56:20Z

Today 27 Feb 2023, the CMHS Principal has received and welcomed Prof. Erik PERJONS, one of the Sweden PhD supervisors for the students under CEBE/UR SIDA sub program of digital health.