On January 11, 2026, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which liturgically marked the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time in the Roman Catholic Tradition, Hekima University Principal Rev. Dr Marcel Uwineza, SJ, marked the three years of his tenure at the helm of the institution.
In the history of academic institutions, three years can be a mere blink of an eye. Yet, for Hekima University College (HUC), the period between 2023 and 2026 has been a “metamorphosis of grace.” Under the leadership of Principal Father Marcel Uwineza, SJ, the college has transitioned from a season of “Better to Best” to Forward and Upward with Hope and to its current soaring theme: “Dreaming Big and Flying High.”
As Fr. Marcel marks his third year at the helm, a tenure he humbly describes as a ministry of servus (servant), the “finger of God” is evident across every square inch of the two campuses.
A Green Legacy: Caring for the Common Home
Inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’, Fr. Marcel’s first year (HUC@40) focused on the environment. “How would you want your children to look at your house after you are no longer there?” Fr. Marcel reflects. This vision manifested in the “Make Hekima Green” campaign, which replaced dust with blossoming palms and thriving trees along Joseph Kangethe Road and the Riara Campus.
This environmental stewardship culminated in a landmark transition from reliance on traditional Kenya Power to sustainable solar energy, ensuring that Hekima is not only a center of intellectual light but also a model for renewable energy in Nairobi.
The Student “Boom”: Growth by the Numbers
The last three years have seen a steady, at times explosive, rise in the student population. The Jesuit School of Theology (JST), in particular, has witnessed a dramatic upward trend in enrollment.
| Academic Year | JST Enrollment | HIPSIR Enrollment | Total New Students |
| 2023-2024 | 40 | 20 | 60 |
| 2024-2025 | 45 | 15* | 60 |
| 2025-2026 | 68 | 23 | 91 |
*Note: HIPSIR’s decline in 2024 was attributed to limited scholarship funds, a challenge that was addressed aggressively this year.
Today, the scholarship program has reached a new pinnacle: 13 of the 23 new HIPSIR students are on full scholarships, covering everything from tuition and on-campus accommodation to monthly stipends and research grants.
Intellectual Landmarks: The Laurenti Magesa African Chair
For Fr. Marcel, a “serious university” requires academic chairs. In 2024, HUC inaugurated the Laurenti Magesa African Chair in African Studies, named after the late eminent scholar who taught at Hekima for 14 years.
“If you want a scholarship, you have to provide a space for scholars to reflect,” Fr. Marcel notes. Through local fundraising that reached nearly $50,000, the chair was launched with Bishop Rodrigo Mejia, SJ, as its first occupant. The initiative has successfully bridged the gap between Hekima and global academic discourse, featuring exchanges with prominent figures like Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
Spiritual Foundations: The Retreat Direction Program
While infrastructure and enrollment soar, Hekima’s spiritual core remains firm. The Retreat Direction Program, founded in 2009, has seen its highest participation rates yet. In the 2025-2026 cycle, 58 students enrolled in this foundational training, preparing them to be prayer guides and formators across the continent.
International Conference for Women Theologians, Fadhili House Acquisition and Infrastructural Overhaul, and HUC Strategic Plan
The Principal highlighted the second year of his tenure as a period of “remarkable change,” punctuated by three major achievements: the International Conference for Women Theologians, asummit that has since been held twice and brought together global voices like Professors Sean Copeland, Theresa Okure, and Lisa Cahill. The resulting publication, edited by a team of Hekima faculty and sisters, is already becoming a staple in theological bibliographies.
The Acquisition of Fadhili House: This expansion was driven by a growth vision. Dr Uwineza emphasized that donors invest only when they see a clear direction. The acquisition and renovation of the former Mill Hill Missionaries premises, now renamed Fadhili House, stands as a crown jewel of the “Dreaming Big” era. The facility underwent a total overhaul, including a complete renovation of the Chapel, named after Pope Francis; a transformation into a modern hostel for male students; and offices for the ODeL Program, which is in the pipeline.
The HUC Strategic Plan 2024-2030 & CUE Approval: The year also saw the Commission for University Education (CUE) approve the MTh program, aligning with the college’s new Strategic Plan 2024-2030.
A Vow of Poverty to Enrich Others
Dr. Uwineza’s drive for scholarships is rooted in his own history as an orphan of the Rwandan genocide. “I would not be here if my uncle had not taken up the mantle to educate me,” he shared. For him, the Jesuit vow of poverty is not about lack, but about dispossession for the sake of others’ lives.
“How can my life enrich others? When I see a child who can’t go to school, my heart bleeds. You may not change the whole world, but you can change the world for one person.”
This philosophy has transformed HUC’s financial aid landscape. From a handful of grants, the college now manages nearly 23 active scholarships, including: the HUC Partial Scholarship which is specifically designed to help top-performing women from the Certificate in Theology program transition into full degree studies; the scholarship for women in theology, a program that supports both lay and religious women to pursue Masters and PhDs in Theology, and but not least, other named grants such as the Ignatius and Michael Garanzini scholarships, alongside individual donations from friends in places as far-flung as Hawaii.
Dr Uwineza is unapologetic about the need to end “patriarchal” classrooms. By ensuring women are always present in the Bachelor of Theology (BTh) program, Hekima is changing the very ecology of religious discourse.
“More than half of the church is made up of women,” he noted. “We complain there are no women to form priests, yet we don’t invest in their formation.” He pointed to the legacy of Sister Dr Ingrid Vorner as the gold standard, expressing his desire to see a new generation of women theologians who can “robustly change the minds of seminarians.”
Reflecting on his time in the United States, Dr Uwineza recalled a mentor’s advice: “No one is ever going to give you money if they don’t see a vision.” At Hekima, that vision is clear, expanding physical spaces like Fadhili House while simultaneously expanding the intellectual boundaries of the African Church.
“Jesus was accompanied by women in his ministry,” Dr Uwineza concluded. “We are simply asking: who is missing at the table when we gather?”
Three New Academic Programs Approved by the CUE Set to begin in August 2026
The three newly approved programs by the Commission for University Education in Kenya (CUE): Bachelor of Arts in Migration, Security, and Diplomacy, Master of Arts in Spirituality, and Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship are indeed strategic growth rooted in the Jesuit Mission. Classes for the program are set to begin in August 2026.
Upgraded ICT infrastructure: The institution has procured new computers for faculty and modernized its CCTV system. In addition, an innovative “holder wall” has been installed to combat soil erosion at the Arrupe Amani Campus.
Principal’s Reflection: Teamwork and Vision
“Whatever we have done, it has been teamwork,” Fr. Marcel says, crediting his deputies, deans, and students. “Vision has driven our leadership. To the students who gave five shillings and the donors who gave thousands, we have seen the finger of God.”
As HUC looks toward the future, the sound of Celine Dion’s “Power of the Dream” resonates through the corridors, a reminder that at Hekima, the flame is burning brighter than ever.
