On January 25th, 2026, the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) will convene students, families, faculty, staff, community, partners, and distinguished guests at Butaro Campus to celebrate a milestone that brings together three pieces of our story: UGHE’s 10-year anniversary, the graduation of our inaugural Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery – Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MBBS–MGHD) cohort, and the graduation of the 10th cohort of the Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD). 

This celebration marks a decade of transformative leadership in global health education, honoring the people and partnerships that have shaped UGHE’s journey, and the graduates who will carry that mission forward across Rwanda, Africa, and the world. 

Celebrating a decade of community, partnership, and progress 

The event will spotlight UGHE’s achievements over the past decade, recognizing the dedication of students, staff, faculty, the local community, donors, and partners, and celebrate the impact UGHE alumni are already making across health systems. It will also reaffirm UGHE’s role as a hub for training leaders who combine technical excellence with equity, pragmatic problem-solving, and a deep commitment to service. 

“UGHE was founded on the principle that all lives are of equal value. We have dedicated ourselves to training students to embody this principle by serving with equity, commitment, integrity, humility, and a spirit of accompaniment. On January 25th, students will graduate, joining the many others who have completed their studies over the past decade, a milestone we are proud to celebrate. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported this mission.” Prof. Philip Cotton, Vice Chancellor, UGHE. 

A first-of-its-kind dual-degree milestone  

UGHE’s inaugural MBBS–MGHD graduates will complete their training with two degrees: a medical degree and a master’s degree, integrating clinical excellence with leadership in health systems strengthening and equity-centered delivery. These medical graduates will graduate in one of four specialized options: One Health, Health Management, Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health, or Global Surgery. A total of 78 students are graduating from UGHE this year, including 30 from the MBBS-MGHD program and 48 from the MGHD program. 

“Today, we celebrate a momentous milestone as we honor the graduation of our first medical cohort, MBBS-MGHD. Over the past six and a half years, this remarkable group of students has shown dedication, resilience, and passion for improving health outcomes, most importantly for the most vulnerable. The country and continent expect a lot from them. We also congratulate our MGHD graduates who spent 18 months with us, training to become excellent leaders in global health. Their journey is just beginning, and we are already seeing the impact they are making on healthcare on the continent.” Prof. Abebe Bekele, Deputy Vice Chancellor, UGHE. 

Media notes 

Media interviews, photos, and campus access coordination will be available upon request. 

Press Inquiries: communications@ughe.org 

About UGHE 

The University of Global Health Equity is an international university based in Rwanda, which trains the next generation of global health leaders through equity-centered education, research, and practice, grounded in the belief that health is a human right. 

For more information, please visit ughe.org 

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