Efforts to address the situation have been sluggish, with fewer than half of the affected degree programs undergoing self-assessment at various institutions. This has raised concerns about the higher education sector potentially facing turmoil once more.
The future of over 1,500 study programs in Ugandan universities and tertiary institutions is in jeopardy as the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) sets a deadline for their review. Institutions have 34 days remaining to complete internal evaluations of these programs before submitting them for NCHE approval and re-accreditation. Failure to meet the deadline will result in the suspension of student enrollments in those programs.
Here’s a summary of the institutions and the courses that are subject to this review:
Africa Institute of Music
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Dip. in Intercultural Studies | Under Review |
| Advanced Diploma In Music | Under Review |
| Advanced Diploma in Intercultural Studies | Under Review |
African College of Commerce and Technology
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Renewable Energies | Under Review |
| Dip. in Tourism and Hotel Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Journalism | Under Review |
| Dip. in Human Resource Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Administration | Under Review |
| Diploma in Records Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Public Administration | Under Review |
| Diploma in Stores Management | Under Review |
| Dip. in Library and Info. Management | Under Review |
African Population Institute
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Dip. in Public Admin & Management | Under Review |
| Dip. in International Relations Management | Under Review |
| Dip. in Business Management & Admin. | Under Review |
| Diploma in Public Health | Under Review |
| Diploma in Social Works & Social Admin. | Under Review |
Al-Mustafa Islamic College
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Education – Secondary | Under Review |
All Nations Theological College and Seminary (ANTS)
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Christian Education | Under Review |
| Diploma in Biblical Studies | Under Review |
| Diploma in Mission Studies | Under Review |
Alliance Vocational School
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Accountancy | Under Review |
| Dip. in Journalism and Mass Com. | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Administration | Under Review |
Artfield Institute of Design
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Audio and Sound Production | Under Review |
Bon Institute of Business and Technology
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Information Technology | Under Review |
| Dip. in Records & Information Management | Under Review |
Bukalasa Agricultural College
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| National Dip. in Agribusiness Management | Under Review |
| Dip. in Crop Production and Management | Under Review |
| Dip. Animal Production and Management | Under Review |
| Dip. Crop Production and Management | Under Review |
| Dip. in Animal Production and Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Home Economics | Under Review |
| National Dip. in Human Nutrition & Dietetics | Under Review |
Covenant Bible Institute of Theology
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Bible and Theology | Under Review |
Datamine Technical Business School
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Electrical & Electrical Engineering | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Computing | Under Review |
| Dip. in Procurement & Supplies Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Admin. and Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Customs Clearing and Forwarding | Under Review |
| Diploma in Information Technology and Systems Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Human Resource Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Accounting and Finance | Under Review |
| Diploma in Fashion and Design | Under Review |
| Dip. in Computer Numeric Control Technology | Under Review |
| Dip. in Records and Archives Management | Under Review |
Development Studies Centre
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Organisational Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Project Cycle Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Community Based Climate Change and Adaptation | Under Review |
| Diploma in Disaster Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Accounting and Finance | Under Review |
East African Professional Counseling Institute
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Counselling Psychology | Under Review |
| Diploma in Addiction Counselling and Therapy | Under Review |
| Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy | Under Review |
Engineering Management and Innovation Institute
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Information Technology | Under Review |
| Diploma in Fabrication | Under Review |
| Diploma in Graphics | Under Review |
| Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineering | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Administration | Under Review |
Ernest Cook Ultra Sound Research and Education Institute
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Foundation Programme- Physics | Under Review |
| Diploma in Medical Engineering | Under Review |
| Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Health and Development | Under Review |
| Bachelor of Science in HealthCare Administration and Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Cold Chain Storage and Instrumentation | Under Review |
| Diploma in Early Childhood Health & Development | Under Review |
| Dip. in Health Administration & Management | Under Review |
| Masters in Radiology | Under Review |
| Diploma in Medical Radiography | Under Review |
ESLSCA International Business School
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma in Global Business | Under Review |
| Postgraduate Diploma in International Marketing | Under Review |
| Bachelor of Science in Information Technology | Under Review |
| Bachelor Degree in Human Resource Management | Under Review |
| Bachelor Degree in International Business Administration | Under Review |
| Bachelor Degree in Business Administration | Under Review |
| International Foundation Programme | Under Review |
| Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Business Administration with International Business | Under Review |
| Diploma in Information Technology | Under Review |
Fisheries Training Institute
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Fisheries Management and Technologies | Under Review |
| Diploma in Marine Construction, System Engineering and Maintenance | Under Review |
| Diploma in Integrated Aquaculture and Agriculture | Under Review |
Fort Portal College of Health Sciences
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Dip. in Leadership and Health Management | Under Review |
| Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health | Under Review |
| Diploma in Pharmacy | Under Review |
| Diploma in Anaesthesia | Under Review |
This looming November 30 deadline comes less than three months after a “courses expired” crisis left many university graduates in a predicament. Some questioned the validity of their qualifications, affecting their job prospects and admission into foreign universities.
Dr. Vincent Ssembatya, the NCHE’s Director of Quality Assurance, confirmed that only 2,395 out of 4,369 accredited degree programs in Uganda’s institutions of higher learning are up-to-date. However, he expressed optimism that institutions can meet the deadline.
A total of 1,560 programs offered by both public and private institutions are due for review, with approximately 400 programs in various stages of evaluation. Institutions such as Kyambogo, Makerere, Uganda Martyrs, and Ndejje universities have the highest number of programs requiring review.
Makerere University’s Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, is confident that they will meet the deadline, with the majority of their programs in the final stages of approval.
Kyambogo University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eli Katunguka, contested the number of programs listed for review on the NCHE website, suggesting that the data may be outdated. He mentioned that the review process is affected by the heavy teaching workload.
Institutions that cannot meet the November 30 deadline can apply for an extension, as agreed in an August 21 meeting with NCHE.
Kampala International University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, stated that they are in the final stages of assessing all programs due for review but called for a deadline extension due to the complex and time-consuming nature of the review process.
In July, the NCHE directed institutions to submit programs for review by November 30 after the rejection of applications from Ugandan graduates seeking upgrades in foreign universities. These rejections were based on programs labeled as “due for review” on the NCHE website.
The NCHE allowed institutions to admit students to programs “due for review” until November 30. At the time, about 2,048 programs were up-to-date, 2,004 were due for review, and 209 were under review.
Dr. Ssembatya explained that the NCHE has been updating the website as affected programs are cleared.
Several institutions disputed the accuracy of the NCHE website, claiming that they had submitted programs for review. Gulu University and the Islamic University in Uganda were among those institutions that contested the data on the website.
As the November 30 deadline nears, the higher education sector in Uganda faces a critical phase in ensuring the quality and relevance of its academic programs.