Kampala set for first regional ministerial conference on East African common higher education area

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Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially open the first Regional Ministerial Conference on the East African Common Higher Education Area (EACHEA) Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The landmark event running up to September 11th is being held at Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo in Kampala, hosted under the theme: Enhancing Regional Integration through Harmonised Higher Education Systems for Sustainable Development in East Africa.

It is also expected to be graced by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Kataaha Museveni.

Jointly organised by the East African Community (EAC) Forum for CEOs of Higher Education Regulatory Agencies and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), the conference will bring together ministers, policymakers, vice-chancellors, researchers and education experts from all eight EAC member states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Somalia.

According to organisers, the three-day event aims to accelerate efforts to create a common higher education area, where academic qualifications and learning outcomes are standardised, and students, faculty, and academic programs can move more freely across borders.

“This is the first time East Africa is hosting a ministerial-level conference dedicated to building a common higher education area. It provides a historic opportunity for us to shape the future of education in the region,” said Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol, Executive Director of Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

She underscored the importance of harmonising systems and qualifications across the region, noting that such alignment would unlock academic mobility and support the region’s socio-economic transformation.

“Through harmonised systems, we aim to ensure that qualifications are recognised across borders, making it easier for students, lecturers, and researchers to move freely and contribute to development across East Africa,” she said.

Background

The concept of a Common Higher Education Area was first championed by the East African Community in the early 2010s, as part of its broader regional integration agenda. In 2015, the EAC Heads of State declared the establishment of the EACHEA, laying the groundwork for harmonised policies, quality assurance frameworks, and mutual recognition of qualifications.

The IUCEA, based in Kampala, has since played a central role in implementing this vision—developing regional qualification frameworks, supporting joint academic programs, and coordinating quality assurance efforts among member states.

However, progress has been uneven, largely due to policy differences, limited resources, and varying levels of higher education development across the bloc. This conference marks a renewed commitment to fast-track implementation and address existing bottlenecks.

Prof. Okwakol called on all higher education stakeholders to participate actively in the conference, describing it as a platform for shaping a more integrated and competitive East African education landscape.

“We welcome all stakeholders to register and be part of this transformative dialogue. The outcomes of this conference will have a lasting impact on the future of higher education and regional integration,” she said.

The event is expected to conclude with a Ministerial Declaration reaffirming the region’s commitment to building a fully functional and inclusive EACHEA.