It is fair to say that there are not many people who can match Prof. Rwigamba Balinda’s character and personality – a man with a passion for education and the epitome of humility, regardless of his tremendous achievements. Many know him as the founder of Kigali Independent University, a leading private university commonly known by its French acronym ULK. But behind the name is a man with an unmatched aura and incredible meekness. When we arrived at the university premises in Gisozi for a sit-down interview, the ever-smiling septuagenarian received us as though we were special guests – ushering us into his office, and expansive campus with a sense of gratitude and warmth. The amiable professor, who many presume retired, is still actively involved in the day-to-day running of several educational institutions he started from scratch, ranging from primary school to university, and is overseeing more expansion plans, including the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital. Born in October 1948 in Masisi, then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Prof. Balinda is a true definition of resilience, and his story shows that if you pursue something you are passionate about – there is no doubt you can succeed. It does not matter what challenges you meet along the way. His father moved from Rwanda to Zaire in 1935 in search of land for his large herd of cows – which is how they settled in Masisi, a territory in the current North Kivu Province, and eventually pursued his education there. When he narrates his story, Balinda speaks as though it were yesterday. At his age, perhaps one would think he does not pay much attention to details, but the seasoned academic has a sharp mind and strong memory, recalling every date, month, and year in which he achieved different milestones. While he has done many things, it is fair to say that the ULK founder has dedicated his life to education – starting in DR Congo by establishing one of the first private universities, Université de Goma, before returning home in 1994 to embark on what has been an illustrious career in education and other fields. He completed his education in DR Congo before starting his first job on October 21, 1974, as an assistant lecturer at the University of Lubumbashi. It was here that Balinda realised his passion for helping others. Having been born into a family that had a tradition of empowering others by giving them cows – traditionally used as start-up capital in Rwandan culture, he began to ask himself how he could assist others. “I saw my mother and my father receive many people at home. There was nothing like selling milk. They just gave it away for free,” he says. He adds that as he grew up, he asked himself what he could do to help others. “I had this in mind: What can I do to assist people, to make people happy, to help them build their lives and their character with ethical principles and values? How can I give them knowledge and performance skills?” he says. Balinda says he grew up in “excellent conditions” because his father had many cows and assets, but he never took it for granted, knowing it wasn’t the case for everyone. “We had a father who was really a visionary. Instead of leading us to the cows to become shepherds, he said, ‘No, you must go to school,’” he says, adding that studying in Congo at the time was very difficult due to the scarcity and remoteness of schools. The primary school he attended was very far from home, but his father insisted that Balinda and his siblings should go to school. His mother, on the other hand, suggested they stay home to take care of the cows and land. “Our father did his best. Among his children, five got PhDs,” he says. Unfortunately, his siblings have since passed on, but nothing can diminish their accomplishments. Among his siblings was his elder brother Prof. Gasana Balinda, who was the Dean of the Faculty of Science at what was then the National University of Rwanda (NUR). He earned his PhD from Japan in 1977. Prof. Rwigamba obtained his own PhD in 1982, while his other brother, Dr. Kalisa Balinda, also had a PhD and represented DR Congo at the World Health Organisation (WHO). A calling to serve Growing up, Rwigamba’s dream was to become someone who could assist others, or become a missionary. It is a dream he has not given up on. Today, he is a pastor and incorporates Christian values into his work. “I really wanted to have a life where I am ready to assist other lives,” he recalls, adding that later he changed his focus, and ventured into education. The education system in Congo at the time was inadequate, and his mission became to study and later establish a university that would not only improve the quality of education but also nurture best practices in people. He wanted to create something that would make a difference in how children were educated. This mission remains his passion today, as he continues to directly interact with students, teachers, and lecturers because each one plays an important role. He achieved this in DR Congo by establishing Université de Goma, but eventually, due to insecurity, he had to return home to Rwanda in 1994. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, millions of refugees fled to what was then Zaire, following the triumph of the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi), which led to insecurities in Eastern DR Congo. The Interahamwe militias and genocidaires exported the genocide ideology and targeted Congolese Tutsi communities, with the support of some countries. This crisis still persists today, 30 years later. Prof. Rwigamba was among the targeted people and convinced his wife that they had to move to Rwanda, along with their students and lecturers, to escape the killers – who still wreak havoc in that part of the country. “I prayed to God and said, ‘I have my students and lecturers here...help us to cross the border,’” he recalls. They abandoned everything and, luckily, made it to Rwanda. His university and other properties owned by Tutsi communities in Goma were destroyed to ensure they could never return. He recalls that he was received by Lt.Gen. (Rtd.) Charles Kayonga in July 1994, who told him that there was much he could contribute to Rwanda and encouraged him to join efforts to rebuild the nation. On December 9, 1994, Prof. Rwigamba was appointed as one of the first academics to help restart the University of Rwanda. He, along with others, worked to reopen the university in April 1995, just five months after it had been closed. However, there was a challenge. At the time, the new government did not have the funds to hire enough lecturers or to admit the large number of students who wished to attend the university. This is when Prof. Rwigamba conceived the idea of establishing a private university in Kigali to admit students who could afford tuition but could not be admitted to the University of Rwanda. Starting from scratch to tackle a national challenge Prof. Rwigamba had saved some money from his previous ventures and sold off his cows to acquire capital. On March 12, 1996, banking on his previous experience, he set out to start ULK, knowing the need for such an institution was immense. The university started out renting premises at St. Paul, near St. Famille Church in town. “We started by renting two small rooms, and my office was just in the corridor,” he recalls. For teaching, he relied on his friends who were lecturers at UR and offered to work with him part-time. However, several others he contacted turned him down, saying that there was no money in the project and that the country’s economy was still weak. “They said it was impossible. It was a very risky project,” he said. For Prof. Rwigamba, the need was urgent, as the national university was unable to accommodate the country’s demand for higher education. “In 1994, after 31 years of existence, can you imagine that they only produced 2,000 graduates?” he says of UR, which was established in 1961. But this was no coincidence. Prof. Rwigamba attributes it to a deliberate effort by the system at the time to block intellectualism. To understand the context, Rwigamba says ULK has produced 41,425 graduates since its establishment in 1996, including both bachelor's and master's degrees. The university received accreditation for its master’s programs in 2012. All of this has been achieved without compromising the quality of education, as each step of growth and new programs is assessed and approved by the Ministry of Education. His vision was, and still remains, to offer complete education. This vision keeps him working well into the night. “This is the most important,” he says, emphasising that complete education means offering students a high-quality education, which encompasses many aspects, starting with how teachers are selected. Even if you have a PhD, you must sit for a test, and your values and principles must meet expectations during the recruitment process. A team of five to six people evaluates all of these aspects before hiring. But it doesn’t stop there. He also leads by example, living according to the principles, values, and standards he has set. To hire a candidate, he insists they must score at least 80 per cent. These are values he shares with others, including the chairperson of the board, Prof. Chrysologue Karangwa, and the late Prof. Pierre Rwanyindo Ruzirabwoba, both of whom shared an outstanding academic record. For complete education to be achieved, Prof. Rwigamba believes that both teachers and learners must play their part equally and be present. That is why he has not delegated his teaching duties. Every day, you will find him pacing around the campus, ensuring everything is running smoothly, while also interacting with students to listen to their needs. “Every time I meet the students, I say to them, ‘Please check if the modules are on ULK platforms. Check if there is a complete text before you start,” Rwigamba says, stressing that these details matter. His teaching philosophy follows six key elements; including class participation, where students must mentally follow the explanations given by teachers or lecturers and engage actively. For Prof. Rwigamba, a student should never miss a session unless they are hospitalised or have another significant reason, as missing just a few hours of class can result in missing irreplaceable content. The second element is encouraging regular personal study, not just to understand the modules but also to learn more beyond what teachers can provide to enrich their minds. “Number three is teamwork and group work. Together, everyone achieves more,” he says, highlighting some of the key philosophies they follow, including integrating digital tools into learning and teaching processes. Rwigamba, a Pan-Africanist, believes changing the instruction language to English was not to promote foreign languages, but to prepare graduates who can compete in the international labour market. Beyond academics, they also emphasise teaching business skills and proficiency in languages, including comprehension, reading, writing, and public speaking, as these are essential for students’ success in the labour market. Other areas of focus include balancing digital resources with physical library books and encouraging participation in public debates to boost self-confidence and public speaking skills. In a world where young people are increasingly attached to their gadgets, Rwigamba believes these are teaching aspects many educators overlook but are vital for providing complete education. Outside classwork, Rwigamba says they also focus on building character and personality, instilling ethical principles such as integrity, discipline, and kindness. “The first step is to explain the importance of these principles and values,” Balinda says. “We ask our students to practice with them. You become what you practice.” “We teach our students to practice integrity, justice, love, and the value of knowing that you are here as a humble servant of God and people. You are here to serve,” he adds. This is how they aim to raise agents of change in society. ALSO READ: Discipline key to success ULK-founder Not yet where he wants to be While one might think he has accomplished everything, Prof. Rwigamba says he is not yet where he wants to be in terms of contributing to Rwanda’s education sector. Based on the master plan laid out in his office, Rwigamba says he has only achieved about 70 to 80 per cent of his dream. “My vision was to create an excellent university in the heart of Africa. Rwanda is the heart of Africa, with excellent teaching staff and managers,” Rwigamba says, welcoming students from all over Africa and empowering them with the skills to transform communities in their respective countries. Today, ULK is not only welcoming students from Africa, but also from countries around the world, such as India and the U.S. “Currently, we have 41 nationalities here. We have almost 3,000 students from various countries,” he says, adding that they have built standard hostels to accommodate international students who come to Rwanda seeking education. The university also subscribes to international programmes, and partners with universities such as Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge, to give students exposure and improve their knowledge. Retirement plans Despite all his accomplishments, Rwigamba, a dedicated educationalist, is not thinking of retiring soon. However, he is preparing for that eventuality by nurturing others to take over. “I pray to God for good health and more years ahead of me to continue assisting those who will replace me,” says Balinda when asked about retirement plans. “In education, there is no retirement.” Besides ULK, Rwigamba is also the founder of Glory Primary Academy and ULK Polytechnic Institute, all of which sit on 26 hectares of land in Gisozi sector, Gasabo District. His journey has taken him from St. Paul to Kacyiru, where the initial site was deemed a wetland, prompting him to seek larger land. Prof. Balinda says the Mayor of Kigali at the time, Theoneste Mutsindashyaka, hesitated to approve the land for such a large project. However, Prof. Karangwa and Prof. Rwanyindo convinced him that Rwigamba would live up to his word. Helping others to help others Rwigamba practices what he preaches. While private universities are often seen as commercial, using tuition fees to generate profit, Rwigamba, a devout Christian, believes he can combine education with helping others. Together with his wife, they have offered scholarships to over 2,000 students who could not afford school fees, many of whom have gone on to graduate and secure good jobs. Many of these students are survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, or come from vulnerable families. It is their belief that when they empower others, they also empower those they help to help others, continuing the cycle. Juggling education and politics Prof. Rwigamba was among the senators who formed the first senate after the constitutional referendum in 2003. He describes this period as difficult, as Rwanda was still rebuilding itself from the aftermath of the genocide. However, he feels that this was the most important phase of his contribution to the country. The new parliament had a mandate to enact critical laws, including one that abolished the death penalty. “Can you imagine a country that had just gone through a genocide abolishing the death penalty?” he says, pointing out that it was the most fulfilling part of his service to the country. At the time, Rwigamba says there were no computers or digital tools in parliament, unlike today. “We had to write everything with a pen and give the central secretariat to type,” he says, explaining how far Rwanda has come since then. Prof. Rwigamba believes all of this wouldn’t have been possible without the vision of President Paul Kagame. Rwanda’s focus was not revenge but unity and reconciliation. An RPF-Inkotanyi senior cadre, Rwigamba says Rwanda understands that one wrong cannot correct another wrong – pointing out that even today members of the FDLR, who are captured, treated, and reintegrated into society. During the eight years he spent in the Senate, Rwigamba never abandoned the university, regularly supervising work and dropping by on weekends, while his wife took over as deputy vice chancellor. He would find time to teach his favourite subjects; ethics, integrity, and Rwandan culture. A witness to progress Rwigamba runs short of words when asked his view on where Rwanda has come from and where it is today, having been part of the rebuilding process, especially in the education sector. “I have no words to say. It is a miracle from God, but achieved through President Kagame and the government, in all domains,” he says. “I've been to many countries, but what is happening here is unique,” Rwigamba says, pointing out that Rwanda has managed to rebuild and develop at a quick pace – something he attributes to the RPF’s vision to transform the lives of the people. From a country where killers were marauding hills, hunting people and militias were setting up roadblocks to kill and loot, to a model of development it is today, Prof. Balinda says Rwanda is nothing short of a miracle. He recalls that during that time, he had a chance to visit different parts of the country, and dilapidation was the order of the day – lack of basic facilities, children studying under trees. Today, Rwigamba says that when you go to Rusizi, Karongi, Ruvabu, Nyagatare, and other parts of the country, you see resorts by the lakes and many new developments – which affirm the socioeconomic transformation the country has undergone. At that time, there were no private schools or universities, but the government opened the door for him and many others to come in and play their role. Apart from President Kagame, whose government has done a lot, Prof. Rwigamba also pays tribute to the late Col. Dr. Joseph Karamera, one of the first post-genocide education ministers, for championing that difficult era, as the government sought to expand the education sector to meet the needs of the country. As ULK looks to turn 29, Rwigamba says the focus now is on introducing new post-graduate courses and PhD studies, as part of the university’s mission to grow vertically. Before he retires, Balinda, who is also an author, wants to see his vision of complete education realised, starting from nursery to secondary, vocational training, and a university that can offer courses all the way to PhD. It is a dream that is very much on course.