Bugema University is located on a 640-acre piece of land in Luwero district, Bamunanika county, Kalagala sub-county. The institution started in 1948 as a training school for teachers and pastors for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Africa. By then it was called Bugema Missionary Training School. Later, the name changed to Bugema Missionary College and then to Bugema Adventist College.  In 1978, Bugema Adventist College graduated its first degree class with Bachelor of Theology. The College expanded and by the late 1980s curricula for Business and Education were put in place.

In 1994, Bugema Adventist College changed its status from college to university, and in 1997, Bugema University was granted a license from the Ministry of Education and Sports to operate as a university offering Bachelor of Theology, BBA in Management and Accounting, and BA in Education with History, Religion, English and Literature as teaching subjects.

Due to continued interest shown by prospective students and sponsors in the academic programs offered by Bugema University, progressive steps were taken and the curricula expanded to meet the demands of the constituency.

Bugema University is fully chatered by the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Uganda as an institution of higher learning.  It is also fully accredited as a university by the Adventist Accrediting Association based in Maryland, USA .

Vision Statement:
Bugema University envisions training for Excellence in Service

Mission Statement:
The mission of Bugema University is to offer an excellent and distinctive wholistic Christian education designed to prepare students, through training, research, and scholarship, for productive lives of useful service to God and to the community with integrity

Philosophy:
Bugema University holds as its philosophy the belief that true education fosters the restoration of the lost image of God in human beings through the harmonious development of the physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions of life.  The philosophy is manifested in the 3H program of the University curriculum, which emphasizes the learners balanced and positive development of the Head, Heart, and Hand as they prepare for service here and for life in the hereafter.

Today, Bugema University runs an in-service/holiday program and has six satellite centers: one in Kampala, for Post-graduate studies, degree and diploma courses and others in Kasese for a Diploma in Education (Primary) through the in-service program, Lira campus, Mbale campus, Arua and Kisii campus Kenya.

Objectives:

Bugema University aims to develop the whole person; therefore, the following objectives reflect this wholistic approach:

To provide academic programs which will allow the students to acquaint themselves with various fields of knowledge and to acquire skills that will facilitate personal, social, academic, and professional development in order to meet individual and societal demands. .

To instill in the students an unswerving allegiance to the principles of Christian faith and a sense of personal responsibility so that they are prepared to render useful service to God and to humanity..

To lay emphasis on applied research relevant to the development needs of the community, including encouraging research leading to the development of patents..

To encourage all faculty to devote part of their time to research for publication in internationally recognised journals.

To select its students solely on the basis of merit while taking cognizance of the need to apply special criteria to potentially able but disadvantaged students

To continue upgrading the quality of its teaching, research and administrative staff through vigorous staff development and staff appraisal schemes.

Functions:
The University seeks to fulfill its vision, mission, and objectives by undertaking the following functions:

Instruction:
Bugema University offers degrees, diplomas, and certificates in various areas.

Research:
The University encourages the faculty and the students to engage in social and scientific research aimed to enhance the development of society and its institutions.

Community Extension:
The University reaches out to the community, through direct and indirect communication, to disseminate information acquired by means of instruction and research through seminars, conferences, workshops, and through different public services. It also has health, social and spiritual programs which include Community Development and Adult Education, Red Cross and TASO services, rural development programs through BIPFORD, and evangelistic programs.

Code of Conduct:

Bugema University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning founded on Christian principles; a conscious effort is made to maintain standards of dress, conduct, social standards and self-control, which reflect the spiritual heritage of Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Christian ethics demand respect for duly constituted authorities.This includes both civil authorities and those other authorities such as parents, teachers, work supervisors, University administrators, etc., to whom the individual is subordinated.

Bugema University is dedicated to upholding respect for civil law as well as respect for the principles of Christian deportment. Off-campus misconduct will call for disciplinary action by the Student Disciplinary Committee. Further, the academic role does not grant student’s legal immunity or sanctuary. At the same time, misconduct on campus may be judged not only by the standards of the legality and suitability, but also by disruption of the normal functioning of the University. Thus, it is recognized that some types of misconduct may constitute violations of both civil and University codes, and actions may be taken by both civil and University authorities without constituting double jeopardy.

While enforcement of rules and regulations is of subsidiary concern to this institution, the primary concern is to maintain the integrity of its educational function by upholding the principles on which it was founded. Bugema University recognizes that its work, while being educative and redemptive, involves a certain level of custodial function, and it takes seriously these responsibilities. It asks the students to seek to live by the principles of the Scriptures. Students who are committed to being Christian ladies and gentlemen are not likely to find themselves in conflict with University expectations.

However, students who, through dress, appearance, conduct, or attitude, clearly demonstrate an unwillingness to cooperate with the expectations of the University, as outlined in the Student Handbook, may be asked to withdraw from the University or may be denied readmission for the succeeding semester(s). Christ is our example