University of Rwanda’s School of Science and Technology, in partnership with Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB), on Wednesday, November 3, officially launched a Bachelor of Science programme in Nuclear Science and Technology.

The four-year programme combines advanced theoretical instruction, hands-on laboratory training, and industry-based learning, marking a major milestone in Rwanda’s efforts to build local expertise in the nuclear sector.

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"Nuclear science and technology is a large and rapidly growing sector," Prof Ignace Gatare, the Principal of UR&039;s College of Science and Technology said during the event. "It includes medical applications, agriculture, and many industrial uses, because it can be applied widely, in medicine, in industries, and in advancing manufacturing."

He noted that Rwanda’s long-term ambitions to harness nuclear energy, including for electricity generation, require a strong and well-trained workforce.

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"That is why it was important for us, together with our partners, to build this capacity and ensure we have students who will advance the sector,” Gatare added.

The new programme’s structure is designed to give students a strong academic base before progressing into specialised fields.

"In the first two years, students will study essential courses that build that foundation, which they will build on in the later years as they gain more specialised knowledge in areas where nuclear energy is used,” he said.

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RAEB chief executive Fidele Ndahayo, who also attended the event, said the programme aligns with the country's broader strategy to apply nuclear technology across multiple sectors, including energy, health, agriculture and industry.

However, he emphasised that these ambitions depend heavily on developing local talent.

For the past seven years, Rwanda has been sending students to study nuclear-related fields abroad due to the absence of local programmes. Many of them are now returning with the expertise the country needs.

"What has changed today is that we have reached a point where we believe we can bring these programmes here and attract a large number of students,” Ndahayo said.

He noted that the newly launched bachelor’s degree is only the first step, as more advanced programmes are in the pipeline. These include nuclear engineering, medical physics, and other highly specialised areas.

"This is just the beginning. In the next five years, the advanced programmes will be available here at the University of Rwanda.”

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Ndahayo added that students will gain hands-on experience through a laboratory that is already equipped with essential tools, with more equipment to be added over time. He also highlighted progress on the planned Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology.

According to him, the feasibility study for the centre has been completed, and several of its facilities are expected to become operational soon.

"By the time these students complete their studies, they will have places where they can do their internships,” he said.