A cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, approved the allocation of state land to Africa Health Sciences University (AHSU) to develop a medical education campus. Established by King Faisal Hospital, AHSU is a newly accredited health sciences institution training the next generation of health professionals in medicine, pharmacy, nursing and midwifery, laboratory technology, radiography, and other allied health fields. Here is what to know about AHSU’s upcoming campus: Location and size According to information The New Times obtained from King Faisal Hospital on July 31, the medical education campus will be located in Rusororo Sector, Gasabo District. The information also says the medical education campus will occupy 18 hectares. First intake The university launched its first academic programmes in Kigali in September 2024, with the initial intake for the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Midwifery, aiming to significantly increase the number of healthcare professionals. It initially enrolled 40 learners selected from 1,423 applications (a 2.3% acceptance rate for the midwifery programme) for a four-year degree. The selection process prioritised learners who excelled in high school examinations, particularly in biology. Students who were admitted in the first intake are primarily based at Kacyiru District Hospital, Muhima District Hospital, and King Faisal Hospital Rwanda for the duration of their training. ALSO READ: Midwifery scholarship programme to address scarcity of healthcare specialists What courses will it offer, what is the scholarships status Although it started by offering the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, the 2024 ministerial order specified that AHSU is permitted to offer Master’s degree programmes in anaesthesiology, emergency medicine, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics. It will also provide courses in pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, radiography, and laboratory sciences. Some selected students will receive full scholarships, accommodation, and stipends during their studies. Master of Medicine AHSU has recruited 63 highly qualified candidates for its second cohort of Master of Medicine residencies in six specialties, including anaesthesiology and critical care, emergency medicine and critical care, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics all of which are 4 years in duration. The first cohort commenced in September 2024. Residents began their training at the AHSU campus in Kigali with two months of cross-cutting courses, covering foundational concepts in medical practice, forensic medicine and medical ethics, global health, digital health, and research methodologies. Afterwards, residents will transition to hands-on clinical rotations at AHSU’s affiliated teaching hospitals, including King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFHR), Kibungo Level II Teaching Hospital and Kibuye Level II Teaching Hospital. Partnerships with foreign institutions AHSU has diverse and experienced faculty from across the globe, including, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, the United States, Belgium, and others.
