KAMPALA UGANDA: 21 October 2026— The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has formally intervened in the dispute over the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), clarifying that the programme remains fully accredited and instructing students and faculty that teaching and learning activities should continue uninterrupted.
The controversy arose after the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) publicly announced it was withdrawing recognition of Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s (MUST) Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. The decision followed a brief period where the university appointed a senior lecturer with a nursing background—though holding a PhD in Pharmacology—to head the pharmacy department after the previous head resigned in July 2026.
PSU’s notice caused widespread confusion among students and prospective pharmacists regarding the validity of their degrees and professional registration.
In a statement outlining its statutory oversight, NCHE emphasized that the mandate to accredit academic qualifications and withdraw recognition rests solely with the Council under Section 4 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act Cap. 262:
Section 4d (ii) empowers NCHE to receive, consider, and process applications for accreditation in consultation with relevant professional associations and regulatory bodies.
Section 4(f) also mandates the Council to receive and investigate complaints regarding higher education institutions and take appropriate regulatory action.
Sole Preserve for Recognition: Section 4(i) reserves the ultimate legal authority for the recognition and withdrawal of academic qualifications to NCHE.
Addressing the course’s status, NCHE stated that MUST’s Bachelor of Pharmacy degree was first accredited in 2010. The programme has since undergone periodic evaluations, with its most recent re-accreditation granted on January 30, 2025, extending its validity through 2036. NCHE confirmed that all re-accreditations were conducted in consultation with PSU as required by law.
NCHE revealed that it was neither involved in nor consulted on PSU’s decision to announce a unilateral withdrawal of recognition.
The regulatory body provided context regarding the departmental leadership changes:
Previous Leadership: Until July 2026, the Department of Pharmacy at MUST was headed by an Associate Professor of Pharmacy, who subsequently resigned to take up a full professorship at another university.
Interim Appointment: Following the departure, MUST temporarily appointed a Senior Lecturer holding a PhD in Pharmacology from Ghent University in Belgium—who had a nursing background—to oversee the department.
Current Leadership: MUST subsequently appointed a qualified Pharmacist—who currently serves as the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda—as the Acting Head of Department.
To dispel confusion and protect students’ academic continuity, NCHE issued three main directives:
Accreditation Standing: The Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at MUST is fully accredited through 2036.
Validity of Status: The programme’s official accreditation has not been withdrawn.
Continuation of Academic Operations: Teaching, learning, and academic assessments for the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme must proceed without interruption.
NCHE reiterated its willingness to receive and investigate institutional grievances through established statutory mechanisms to ensure quality standards across Uganda’s higher education sector.
