Life Experience  of  Non- Muslims  at  IUIU
By Bukuri  Kakooza
The  decision to establish an Islamic University in Uganda came out of the Heads  of  states  summit  of  the  OIC member states that  took  place  in  1974  in  Lahore,  Pakistan.  It  was  decided  that  two  Islamic Universities  be  set  up  in Africa;  one  in  Niger  to  serve  the  French  speaking  African  states  and  one  in  Uganda  to  serve  the  English  speaking states.
In  the  case  of the  IUIU,  preliminary  works  began  and it  was decided then  that the University would  be  set  up  in  West  Nile  district  of Arua  at  a  place  called  Arivu. Unfortunately,  the  University  never  took  off  until the  late  Idi  Amin  Dada’s  government  was  overthrown.  During  the  early   1980s the  then   government  changed the  site  of the University  from  Arua  to  Mbale  and  offered the  premises  of  Nkoma  Secondary School  to  accommodate  the  University.
However, the  university  did  not  start until  February  10, 1988  when  it  opened  its  doors  to  its  pioneer  students.  The  University  started  with  two  faculties-the  faculty  of  Islamic  and  Arabic  Languages   and  the  faculty  of  Education.  Initially it was  thought  that  the  Faculty  of  medicine  would  also  be  started,  but  when  government  of  Uganda  withdrew  the  school  of hygiene  which  it had  previously  donated,  it  became  impossible  to  start  a  medical  course  then.
The Main Campus is approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi), north of the city of Mbale, in eastern Uganda, on the Mbale-kumi Road. The coordinates of the main campus are 01 05 35N, 34 10 37E (Latitude: 1.0930; Longitude: 34.1770). 
Students at all campuses of IUIU  are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. In case of;                                                                                                                                      A. Female students  must put on traditionally accepted Hijaab, covering all parts of their bodies except the face, fingers palms and feet. The hair should be covered too,
They should not put on male dressings ,  All other types of tight fitting dresses that portray/depict the body alignment or those that are short, transparent and slittedare strictly forbidden. Transparent head covers are also not allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B. Male students
 Male students are required to dress in a decent manner befitting the norms of an Islamic Institution. Female clothing, shorts, bangles, necklaces, or other ungentlemanly clothes e.g. sleeveless vests, kinky dresses, dread locks etc are not permissible to male students.
Non-Muslims at IUIU  though  live  a different  life ,  according to Kamugisha Maureen a  second year  mass  communication student at  females’  campus  kabojja life here is not difficult as  such because  on  Sundays  they  allow  us  non-moslems  to  go  out  for  prayers  though  moslems  are  favoured  most  mainly  in  students  politics when even us  are  capable  of  leading  this  institution  and  the main  problem is  the  University  forcing  us to  do  some  papers which  are  not in  line with the  National  Council  for  Higher  Education (NCHE).
At  IUIU, papers  like Introduction to Arabic  and  Introduction  to  Islam are  done  by  every  student  regardless of  religion , tribe , country and  the  programme  offered,  failure  to do  them  and  pass  by  50% a student  can  not  graduate.
And  also  someone  to  head  students’  body or  to  be on  the executive must  be  a  practicing  Muslim  non  muslims are  given  smaller  posts  like  state  ministers  and  member  of  parliament.
“Muslims are favoured to  the extent  that  even  in  class they  are considered  first”. Aggrieved Maureen added.
However ,  Amulen Maureen (22), doing Bachelor of Development Studies at main campus  in  Mbale who  joined  IUIU because it  builds moral characters in students especially female students in terms of dressing despite the fact that being a non Muslim she finds it a bit exigent to put on hijab (Islamic dress) for the whole day.  “They  should  atleast  leave  us  to  put  on  our  usual  clothing’s  in  Weekends".  She added.
According  to  the  University Public  Relations  Officer  ( PRO),  Mr Lukoya  Shaban, bringing the  education  gap  that  was  created  by  the  mistakes  made  during  post-colonial  Uganda;  which  left  many  Muslims  lagging  behind   education  wise ,  it’s  the  reason  why  IUIU