More than 200 new students arrived at African Leadership University’s (ALU) Rwanda campus this September, joining the university as part of its September 2026 intake.
Known as the Ubuntu Intake, the new cohort began with a week designed to help students settle in, meet one another, and get a feel for life at ALU.
The week opened with a Welcome Ceremony, featuring a conversation between new students and Dean Elizabeth Tolu. From there, students met faculty and staff, learned about the resources available to them, and started getting to know the people with whom they will spend the coming years.
But orientation wasn’t only about preparing for classes. At the Club Fair, students discovered the clubs, interests, and student-led communities they could get involved in. At the Open Mic, some took the stage while others cheered them on, offering an early glimpse of the energy and creativity they will bring to campus.
The experience also took students beyond the campus gates and into Kigali. For many arriving in Rwanda for the first time, the Kigali City Tour was an introduction to the city they will be living and studying in: a chance to orient themselves, experience the city beyond what they had seen or heard before arriving, and begin understanding the wider context of their new university life.
The week culminated in Ikaze, ALU Rwanda’s traditional welcome ceremony. New and continuing students joined faculty and staff to celebrate the cultures and perspectives represented across campus and formally mark the arrival of the September cohort.
Underpinning it all was the spirit of Ubuntu: the idea that who we become is shaped by the people and communities around us.
Now, the real experience begins. With orientation behind them, students can start making ALU their own, whether that means joining a club, building something with their peers, pursuing a new interest, or turning an idea into something bigger.
For those already thinking about that last one, applications for the ScaleUp Lab are open. The programme helps aspiring entrepreneurs strengthen their ventures, learn from experienced founders, connect with investors, and build alongside other entrepreneurs.
ScaleUp Lab applications close October 16, 2026. Apply here.
