By Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus - As Kampala International University (KIU) prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in June 2025, Apuri Ismail Mukasa, a proud alumnus, reflects on his transformative journey there. Mukasa's story is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the impact of KIU's nurturing environment.

At 21 years old, Mukasa lost both his biological parents, an ordeal that changed his life forever. Just when he thought all hope was lost, a generous man and KIU Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Al-Hajj Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba, came into his life and offered him a chance at a better future.

"Amidst all challenges, he took me in and ensured I got the best," Mukasa narrated.

Given this tremendous opportunity, Mukasa decided to attend Uganda's leading private university, Kampala International University (KIU), a choice he deeply cherishes to this day.

As a student at KIU, Mukasa held various responsibilities, including construction officer, library assistant, IT technician, systems administrator, and assistant storekeeper. These experiences honed his technical skills and instilled valuable leadership and teamwork abilities that he applies daily.

Mukasa highlighted that his KIU experience was a defining chapter in his life, that shaped him into a confident and accomplished Professional Engineer.

"The diverse culture, peer interactions, warm environment of the institution, the selfless staff, and a mix of theory and practice laced with projects and internships laid a strong foundation for my future. Today, I use the analytical skill set, communication, and leadership skills learned at the university to guide me in making data-based decisions and to suggest creative solutions in the areas of Engineering and ICT (Computer Science)," added Mukasa.

As the university celebrates 25 years, Mukasa continues to express his appreciation to his sponsor and KIU Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Al-Hajj Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba, as well as the staff, mentors, and friends who made his journey easier and helped groom him into the successful engineer he is today.