Amid disease and conflict in eastern Congo, there is still cause for joyous celebration.
On August 14, more than 80 UCBC graduates walked together from Beni City Hall to the Kasali Hope Campus to begin a day years in the making. The traditional march symbolizes the training, determination and perseverance that carried them through their academic journey — and the beginning of a new chapter.
The celebration continued with UCBC’s 16th commencement ceremony. Surrounded by family, friends and faculty in the Hope Tent, graduates gathered to reflect, worship and recognize all they had accomplished. As each crossed the stage to receive a diploma, they joined a growing network of more than 1,100 UCBC alumni who share a vision for a stronger Congo.
Their dreams and next steps will take them in different directions, but each leaves UCBC equipped with knowledge, practical skills, a supportive network and the courage to lead. They are prepared not simply to build careers, but to serve with excellence and integrity, strengthen their communities and help shape the future of their country.
And, of course, commencement would not be complete without celebration. After the ceremony, graduates marked the milestone alongside the friends and family members who encouraged them throughout their journey before stepping forward into whatever comes next.
This celebration belongs to the Congo Initiative community, too. Over the past four years, your generosity, prayers and encouragement have helped make this education possible. These students did the hard work — studying, persevering and pursuing their goals despite circumstances that could easily have stood in their way. You helped ensure they had the opportunity to keep going.
Today, we celebrate what they have accomplished. Tomorrow, we look with hope toward what they will do next. Together, we envision these graduates pursuing their dreams, leading with courage and integrity and using their education to build a better Congo.
Congratulations, UCBC Class of 2026. We are cheering you on!
View the Graduation Photo Gallery
UCBC Announces Transition to Three-Year Programs
This month, UCBC leadership announced a new direction for the future of bachelor’s degrees at the university. Those starting in the 2026-2027 academic year will now complete their degrees in three years, rather than four. The training program has been restructured to align with the DRC Ministry of Higher Education and enable students to graduate faster while maintaining the same triadic approach and quality of education.
Ebola Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo Reaches Historic Scale
The Democratic Republic of Congo is once again confronting an Ebola crisis, this time on a historic scale. As of this week, more than 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,500 deaths have been reported, making this the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. Health officials warn the outbreak is still growing and has not yet reached its peak.
For the Congo Initiative community, these numbers represent more than an unfolding health emergency. They represent our friends, neighbors, students, families and communities. People in eastern Congo have shown extraordinary resilience through years of conflict, displacement and uncertainty. Today, they are being asked to carry yet another burden.
Meet a Grad: Kavira Aline Sitwaminya
“At the Christian Bilingual University of Congo, I grew in knowledge and character. This journey was not easy, but it made me more resilient and responsible. I learned perseverance, faith and the value of hard work. I am grateful for this education and ready to move forward in life with confidence. Achieving one’s dreams while remaining true to one’s values is a tremendous blessing. My time at UCBC will remain etched in my heart as a unique experience, filled with learning, challenges, joy and transformation. The love and deep attachment I feel for this institution are profound, for it helped shape the person I am today.”
CONGO IN THE NEWS
- Ebola outbreak growing exponentially, UN warns, as deaths exceed 2,500 (Africanews)
- Ebola outbreak: Five big questions (The Guardian)
- Congo to receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo Ebola vaccine (AP)
- M23 tightens movement controls as Ebola outbreak surpasses 5,000 cases (Africanews)
- Mobile gold miners in eastern Congo complicate health workers’ efforts to contain Ebola (AP)
- Back to school 2026-2027: a distance learning system planned in high-risk Ebola areas (DRC Ministry of Education)
- DR Congo releases 15 prisoners to M23 rebels as part of Doha peace process (Al Jazeera)
- DR Congo’s case against Rwanda moves ahead as World Court sets timetable (Africanews)
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