Signing Ceremony Held Between Kumamoto University and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Tanzania)

On September 3, 2025, Kumamoto University hosted a signing ceremony with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania, to renew their long-standing academic partnership. The MUHAS delegation was led by Prof. Appolinary A. R. Kamuhabwa, Vice Chancellor of MUHAS, and Prof. Bruno Sunguya, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Kumamoto University Liaison Professor, accompanied by Dr. Godfrey Barabona, Visiting Assistant Professor at Kumamoto University. The ceremony was also honored by the presence of Counsellor Edna Dioniz Chuku from the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Japan.

Representing Kumamoto University were President Hisao Ogawa, Executive Vice President Jun Otani, Executive Vice President Kazuhito Tomizawa, Prof. Yuichi Oike, Dean of the Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Prof. Takamasa Ueno, Director of the Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection.

Kumamoto University and MUHAS share a rich history of collaboration in the field of medical sciences, with their inter-faculty exchange dating back to 2003. This academic year marks the 10th anniversary of their university-level agreement, first established in 2016. The ceremony celebrated the renewal of both the inter-university academic and student exchange agreement, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the Kumamoto University Liaison Office in Tanzania.

In his opening remarks, President Ogawa expressed his strong hopes for the renewed agreement to further advance collaborative research in medical sciences including infectious diseases, while also contributing to the development of future global health professionals. The signing was conducted smoothly, with Tanzanian students currently studying at Kumamoto University attending as witnesses—symbolizing the living bridge between the two universities. At present, 12 students from Tanzania are enrolled at Kumamoto University, making Tanzania the second largest group of international students in the Graduate School of Medical Sciences after China.

Following the ceremony, the MUHAS delegation, accompanied by Tanzanian students, toured the Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School and the Chemical Laboratory of the Fifth High School, gaining insight into the cultural and academic heritage of Kumamoto University.

This renewed partnership reaffirms Kumamoto University’s commitment to global engagement and its role in fostering international collaboration in medical education and research.