Kabale University is a public university in Southwestern Uganda with a strong mandate in teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement. The university is nationally recognized for its commitment to applied research, rural transformation, environmental sustainability, and climate-resilient development, particularly within the fragile ecosystems of the Kigezi Highlands and the wider Albertine Rift region.
Through its academic units, research centers, and partnerships, Kabale University plays a leading role in:
- Environmental and natural resources research
- Climate change adaptation and resilience
- Sustainable agriculture and water management
- Community-based development initiatives
Kabale University serves as the coordinating institution of the KI-WATER Project under the Freshwater Resources and Ecosystems Research Group (FRE-RG), providing overall project leadership, institutional governance, research implementation, and capacity-building oversight. The project is anchored in the Department of Environmental Sciences, which offers strong expertise in hydrology, ecosystem management, climate studies, and environmental monitoring.
Through this role, Kabale University ensures:
- Local and regional research leadership
- Integration of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) into teaching and training
- Field-based research and data generation in the Kigezi Highlands
- Community engagement, stakeholder coordination, and policy linkage
The university’s collaboration with international partners, including BOKU University, APPEAR, and OeAD, strengthens its global research footprint while advancing locally grounded, policy-relevant, and community-centered solutions for sustainable freshwater management in Uganda.