The Kalambo campus of the Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB) received this Monday, February 17, 2020 the ambassador of Belgium, His Excellency Johan Indekeu, who had a talk with students in the amphitheater of Vincent Mulago building. Since the deposit of his letter of credence on October 31, 2019, the Ambassador has traveled for the first time in South Kivu in order to visit the projects carried out by the Belgian Development Agency (ENABEL) and discuss with some local partners.

Professor Kanigula Mubagwa, Rector of UCB mentioned the institutional interuniversity cooperation with Belgium. UCLouvain, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, University of Ghent to name a few were mentioned. For nearly ten years, UCB has been running a program funded by VLIR-UOS with the Flemish Universities, which deals with vital questions of post-conflict reconstruction. These are projects on improving the profitability of cassava-based cropping systems, the Center of Expertise in Mining Management in South Kivu, the Specialization in medicine of a medical profession in the problems of health in conflict situations and institutional strengthening. He appealed to multiple other partnerships that Belgium would carry. From these projects, the Rector mentioned the necessary infrastructure for the development of Kalambo Campus.

By thanking the Rector for the warm welcome, the ambassador agreed to be the interlocutor with Belgium for the bilateral projects envisaged with DR Congo but also with the University. Mr. Johan Indekeu congratulated the Catholic University of Bukavu for the recognition received following the quality of its teaching, in particular as the 2nd best University in the DR Congo. Addressing the students, he asked them to remain the source of this excellence which is recognized by their alma mater. “Put a lot of effort into your learning curriculum in order to become a new elite, the one who will carry the country’s development higher,” he said. It should be noted that it was within the framework of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the DR Congo and Belgium that the visit of Ambassador Johan Indekeu took place. Given the prominent place of education in bilateral relations between the two countries, he appreciated this visit to UCB facilities. The Ambassador was amazed by the learning environment and has urged students to more work and commitment for the benefit of the country.

At the end of the exchange, the convoys took the road to Bukavu. Under an evening scent peddled by the foliage adorning this beautiful Kalambo campus, this visit heralded a new era of Belgian-Congolese development cooperation and of which the UCB is one of the essential tools.