Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Practice: Experiences from Mountains of the Moon University

This study investigated the adoption and utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the teaching and learning environment at Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), Uganda. As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into global higher education, institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa face both opportunities and contextual challenges in leveraging these tools effectively. Employing a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with a purposive sample of 47 participants, comprising 12 lecturers, 5 IT administrators, and 30 student leaders. The findings reveal a growing use of AI tools, particularly ChatGPT and MetaI, for academic purposes such as assignment support, test construction, and information retrieval. However, awareness and usage of other AI tools, such as Claude, remain limited, indicating gaps in exposure and training. While lecturers primarily use AI to supplement content development and streamline assessment preparation, more advanced applications such as data analysis, simulation, augmented reality, and other immersive learning technologies remain largely unexplored. The integration of AI at MMU is uneven and shaped by multiple factors, including unreliable internet connectivity, limited AI literacy, ethical concerns, and varied perceptions among stakeholders. The study highlights the need for context-sensitive strategies to support the adoption of AI in African universities. Key recommendations include enhancing digital infrastructure, developing structured AI literacy training for faculty and students, and fostering an institutional culture that promotes ethical and responsible AI use