About
Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB)
The Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB) is a private institution of higher education located in Bukavu, formerly known as Costermansville, in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Founded in 1989 by Archbishop Aloys Mulindwa Mutabesha—the first Black archbishop of the Catholic Church in Bukavu—it operates as a private higher learning institution under Congolese law.
As of the 2021–2022 academic year, the university had an enrollment of 3,766 students.
History
UCB was officially established on November 21, 1989, by decree of the Archbishop of Bukavu. It began operating and receiving students on November 15, 1990, under the leadership of its first rector, Rev. Professor Vincent Mulago Gwa Cikala.
On September 11, 1991, UCB was formally authorized to operate as a recognized higher education institution.
The university launched its Faculties of Medicine and Economics in 1992, followed by the Faculty of Law in 1994. Later, it added the Faculties of Science, Social Sciences, and most recently, Architecture in 2018, which evolved into the Faculty of Polytechnic in 2023.
UCB is considered one of the top universities in the DRC. It was named "Best University in the DRC" in both 2019 and 2020 by Global Brands Magazine for the quality of its academic programs. It was also ranked second nationally by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2021 and UniRank in 2022, just after the University of Kinshasa.
Mission
- Educating students and developing skilled human resources;
- Conducting scientific research across all fields;
- Building national and international academic partnerships to support development aligned with Congolese cultural values;
- Contributing to local and national development and improving quality of life.
Research Centers
- Center for Tropical Diseases and Global Health (CTDGH)
- Center for Public and Administrative Law (CEPAD)
- Center for Conflict Management and Prevention (CEGEC)
- Regional Center for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CERDHO)
- Center for Mining Management Expertise (CEGEMI)
- Center for Environmental and Geo-Resources Research (CREGER)
- Regional Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sustainable Development (CEREIAD)
- Laboratory of Applied Development Economics (LEAD)
- Seeds and Food Research Center (SEEFORC)
- PME Start
Key Research Projects and Community Service
UCB’s research activities and collaborations have a tangible impact on local communities. Notable areas of work include:
- Strengthening rice production and marketing chains
- Supporting microfinance institutions
- Promoting peacebuilding in the Great Lakes region
- Molecular diagnostics for managing multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis
- Enhancing the detection and identification of infectious agents
- Innovations in food security and rural livelihoods
- Soil characterization and pest management in agriculture
- Environmental impact studies on artisanal mining and mercury use
- Chronic disease research (diabetes and hypertension)
- Training government officials (via the PRC GAP Center of Excellence)
- Legal aid and public legal clinics
- Studies on coffee varietals
- Gender-based violence prevention and advocacy
Findings are regularly shared through public forums and are accessible to both policymakers and local communities.
Affiliations and Memberships
- Africa Uninet
- Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)
- International Federation of Catholic Universities (FIUC)
- United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)
- International Alliance for Diabetes Action (IADA)
- Association of African Universities (AAU)
- Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of Africa and Madagascar (ASUNICAM)
- Association of Catholic Universities and Higher Institutes of the Congo (ASUNICACO)