KAMPALA, UGANDA: In a highly anticipated meeting, members of the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum (UVCF) have reached a series of resolutions aimed at addressing the aftermath of the controversy surrounding “expired” university academic programs.
The discussions which took place this week at Makerere University, highlighted the significant anxiety and damage caused to students, parents, stakeholders, and the economy by the news.
The Attorney General’s declaration that program “expiry” is illegal and the need to reconsider the accreditation and reaccreditation processes set the stage for productive dialogue.
The members agreed that the focus should be on strengthening universities’ ability to continuously develop, review, and validate their programs.
The National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) came under scrutiny during the discussions, with members noting its limited capacity to check every program in over 55-degree awarding institutions. It was suggested that the NCHE’s role should primarily focus on accrediting institutions and overseeing quality assurance through inspection and monitoring.
The resolutions proposed a multi-faceted approach to moving forward. Accrediting new programs while allowing universities to internally review running programs, strengthening institutions’ capacity for internal review and validation, and redefining the NCHE’s role to focus on monitoring and inspecting higher education systems were among the suggested steps.
The importance of universities establishing robust quality assurance structures, including effective review systems, regular reviews and revalidation, monitoring operations and performance, producing annual reports, and documenting quality management policies and procedures, was emphasized. The goal was to develop efficient and effective systems for program review and validation, eliminating the need for reaccreditation.
The role of the NCHE would evolve to primarily monitor and inspect the efficiency and effectiveness of universities’ systems, taking action against non-compliant institutions. Members also highlighted the need for the government to strengthen the NCHE’s capacity to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities effectively.
The contentious term “expiry” was unanimously agreed to be expunged, with “re-view” and/or “under review” suggested as suitable replacements based on the stage of the review process.
To address the immediate concerns, the UVCF executive planned to meet with the NCHE Council to discuss the comprehensive set of resolutions and collectively address the current problems. It was also recommended that the NCHE issue another press statement clarifying that any program with prior accreditation remains valid, even when under review.
The UVCF members acknowledged the need for ongoing collaboration with the NCHE as a regulatory body to ensure that all programs align with the current employability demands in Uganda and abroad. They also emphasized the importance of dynamic and regularly updated communication from the NCHE to reflect the accurate status quo of running programs in various universities.
The meeting concluded with a closing prayer led by Professor Aaron Mushengyezi, Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University.
The resolutions reached will now be further discussed and agreed upon by the core stakeholders, including higher education institutions, the NCHE, and the Ministry of Education and Sports, to foster a harmonious relationship and pave the way for a more efficient and effective university program review process.
PARTICIPANTS
- PROF. GEORGE. L. OPENJURU CHAIRPERSON UVCF
- PROF.ERIABU LUGUJJO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UVCF
- DR. JERRY BAGAYA A.R GULU UNIVERSITY
- DR. HALIMA WAKABI AKBAR A.R. ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA
- MS. EVELYN G AYOT A.R. CLARKE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- MS. ANNETTE KYAMUGAMBI A.R BISHOP STUART UNIVERSITY
- PROF. PIUS COXWELL ACHANGA VC MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON UNIVERSITY
- DR.F. KADDU-MUKASA DVC AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY
- PROF. AKIIKI-BYARUHANGA SENIOR STAFF KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.PATRICK KYAMANYWA VC. UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY
- DR. LILLIAN GIMUGUNI A.R BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY
- DR. JAMIL SERWANGA VICE RECTOR (A.A) ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA
- DR.K.M. MATHEWS VC ISBAT UNIVERSITY
- PROF.A.J. LUTALO-BOSA VC TEAM UNIVERSITY
- DR. J, T NZANZU. Q.A. TEAM UNIVERSITY
- DR.M. EMAD UNIVERSITY OF KISUBI
- DR. LAWRENCE MUGANGA VC VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.M. MPEZAMIHIGO VC KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- MR. LEONARD NGHWENO REGISTRAR BUGEMA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.PAUL WAAKO VC BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY
- PROF. AARON MUSHENGYEZI VC UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
- MR. ZAKARIA TURYABA A.R. YMCA
- MR. A. HAMZA SEGAWA A.R KAMPALA UNIVERSIT
- PROF.G. NASINYAMA VC UNICAF UNIVERSITY
- MR. ANTHONY LWANGA A.R AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY
- GRACE KAZOOBA NYAKAHUMA A.R. MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON UNIVERSITY
- PROF.ARTHUR. AHIMBISIBWE A.R. VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.BARNABAS. NAWANGWE VC MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- MR. JOHN KITAYIMBWA DVC AA UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
- DR. CYPRIAN MISINDE DQA MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- MR. YUSUF KIRANDA US. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- PROF.BUYINZA MUKADASI AR. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- ASSOC.PROF. EDWARD BBAALE DIRECTOR DRGT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- MR. HUDSON MUSOKE Ag. DLA MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
- MR. ARTHUR. B. MUGUZI DIRECTOR FINANCE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
- DR. RAJAB WARDAH DVC (AA) KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
- MR. IVAN MUHWEZI Ag. AR KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- DR. HERBERT MUKASA PRINCIPAL YMCA
- PROF.BADRU.D. KATEREGA VC KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.JOY KWESIGA VC KABALE UNIVERSITY
- PROF. CELESTINO. OBUA VC MBARARA UNIVERSITY
- PROF.HARUNA NSUBUGA VC EQUATOR UNIVERSITY
- MR. SILVER MAGARA AR UNIVERSITY OF ST JOSEPH MBARARA
- MS. JACQUILINE. KYOMUHENDO AR. BISHOP STUART UNIVERSITY
- DR. ROSE NANYONGA CLARKE VICE CHANCELLOR CLARKE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- Mr. NARIS TIBENDERANA AR KABALE UNIVERSITY
- MR. MUHANGUZI ROBERT
- PROF.NIXON KAMUKAMA DVC(AA)MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- PROF.JASPER OGWAL-OKENG VC LIRA UNIVERSITY
- MR. JACKTON BRIAN WAFULA LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- MR. OKELLO JAMES GULU UNIVERSITY
- Dr. HENRY BUREGEA VC LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- MR. PATRICK OUKE AR LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- MS. CATHERINE NANYONGA SECRETARIAT
- MS. SUZANNE KWESIGA SECRETARIAT
MEMBERS ABSENT WITH APOLOGY
- Prof Ismail Gyanendra-Rector IUIU
- Dr. Charles Masaba - Vice Chancellor St Lawrence University
- Dr. James Nkata – Director Uganda Management Institute
- Prof. Mwalimu Musheshe-Vice Chancellor African Rural Universities
- Prof. Anguma Simon Katrina-Acting Vice Chancellor Muni University.
- Prof. John Mugisha – Vice Chancellor, Cavendish University (UVCF Vice Chairperson)
- Prof. Jude Lubega -Vice Chancellor Nkumba University
