The visit was aimed at congratulating Hajji Kaliisa following his award of the Diamond Jubilee Medal by the President of Uganda during the 2026 International Labour Day celebrations held at Nkoyoyo Boarding Primary School grounds in Buikwe District.
The medal recognises his contribution to community service and media development in the country.
According to Sheikh Abdulaziz Bukenya Kimirante, who coordinated the visit, the guild leadership expressed strong interest in meeting Hajji Kaliisa to personally congratulate him and seek guidance on leadership and community service.
“They wanted to congratulate him personally and seek guidance from him given his exposure and expertise in serving communities across the country,” Sheikh Kimirante said.
Guild President Emunyu Yahya described the engagement as a memorable experience, thanking Sheikh Kimirante for facilitating the meeting and commending the reception extended by Next Media staff.
“The hospitality we received from the Next Media team was top-notch,” Yahya said.
He also praised Hajji Kaliisa as a pioneer of Islamic media in Uganda, highlighting his role in establishing platforms such as Voice of Africa, Pearl of Africa, Bilal FM, Salam TV and Salam Charity.
During the visit, the student leaders proposed potential collaboration between IUIU and Next Media across media training, charity initiatives, and socio-economic development programmes.
IUIU Vice Guild President Sharitah Namugaya said she was impressed by Hajj Kaliisa’s humility and accessibility.
“I expected him to be tough and hard to reach, but he was very calm and welcomed the team himself,” she said, adding that the cabinet is keen to learn from his experience in media, education, and community service.
Addressing the delegation, Hajj Karim Kaliisa thanked the students for the visit and encouraged them to embrace discipline and leadership responsibility.
“You will all be great leaders and succeed in life because you are steady and knowledgeable,” he said.
He urged the student leaders to lead by example, improve their communication skills, and maintain focus and positivity.
“Confidence and positivity are among the best qualities of a good leader,” he added.
Hajji Kaliisa further pledged support for the guild’s initiatives while encouraging respect for university leadership and structures.
The visit began with a tour of Next Media facilities, giving the IUIU cabinet insight into newsroom operations and the broader workings of one of Uganda’s leading media houses.