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

1. PROF. GEORGE. L. OPENJURU          CHAIRPERSON UVCF
2.  PROF.ERIABU LUGUJJO         EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UVCF
3. DR. JERRY BAGAYA    A.R GULU UNIVERSITY
4. DR. HALIMA WAKABI AKBAR   A.R. ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA
5. MS. EVELYN G AYOT   A.R. CLARKE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
6. MS. ANNETTE KYAMUGAMBI  A.R  BISHOP STUART UNIVERSITY
7. PROF. PIUS COXWELL ACHANGA       VC MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON UNIVERSITY
8. DR.F. KADDU-MUKASA           DVC AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY
9. PROF. AKIIKI-BYARUHANGA   SENIOR STAFF KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
10. PROF.PATRICK KYAMANYWA VC. UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY
11. DR. LILLIAN GIMUGUNI           A.R BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY
12. DR. JAMIL SERWANGA           VICE RECTOR (A.A) ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA
13. DR.K.M. MATHEWS     VC ISBAT UNIVERSITY
14. PROF.A.J.  LUTALO-BOSA       VC TEAM UNIVERSITY
15. DR. J, T NZANZU.        Q.A. TEAM UNIVERSITY
16. DR.M. EMAD    UNIVERSITY OF KISUBI
17. DR. LAWRENCE MUGANGA    VC VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
18. PROF.M. MPEZAMIHIGO          VC KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
19. MR. LEONARD NGHWENO      REGISTRAR BUGEMA UNIVERSITY
20. PROF.PAUL WAAKO    VC BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY
21. PROF. AARON MUSHENGYEZI            VC UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
22. MR. ZAKARIA TURYABA          A.R. YMCA
23. MR. A. HAMZA SEGAWA          A.R KAMPALA UNIVERSIT
24. PROF.G. NASINYAMA  VC UNICAF UNIVERSITY
25. MR. ANTHONY LWANGA          A.R AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY
26. GRACE KAZOOBA NYAKAHUMA         A.R. MOUNTAIN OF THE MOON UNIVERSITY
27. PROF.ARTHUR. AHIMBISIBWE            A.R. VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
28. PROF.BARNABAS. NAWANGWE         VC MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
29. MR. JOHN KITAYIMBWA          DVC AA UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
30. DR. CYPRIAN MISINDE           DQA MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
31. MR. YUSUF KIRANDA US. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
32. PROF.BUYINZA MUKADASI     AR. MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
33. ASSOC.PROF. EDWARD BBAALE       DIRECTOR DRGT MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
34. MR. HUDSON MUSOKE           Ag. DLA MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
35. MR. ARTHUR. B. MUGUZI       DIRECTOR FINANCE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
36. DR. RAJAB WARDAH DVC (AA) KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
37. MR. IVAN MUHWEZI    Ag. AR KAMPALA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
38. DR. HERBERT MUKASA          PRINCIPAL YMCA
39. PROF.BADRU.D. KATEREGA   VC KAMPALA UNIVERSITY
40. PROF.JOY KWESIGA   VC KABALE UNIVERSITY
41. PROF. CELESTINO. OBUA       VC MBARARA UNIVERSITY
42. PROF.HARUNA NSUBUGA      VC EQUATOR UNIVERSITY
43. MR. SILVER MAGARA AR UNIVERSITY OF ST JOSEPH MBARARA
44. MS. JACQUILINE. KYOMUHENDO       AR. BISHOP STUART UNIVERSITY
45. DR. ROSE NANYONGA CLARKE         VICE CHANCELLOR CLARKE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
46. Mr. NARIS TIBENDERANA       AR KABALE UNIVERSITY
47. MR. MUHANGUZI ROBERT    
48. PROF.NIXON KAMUKAMA       DVC(AA)MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
49. PROF.JASPER OGWAL-OKENG           VC LIRA UNIVERSITY
50. MR. JACKTON BRIAN WAFULA           LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
51. MR. OKELLO JAMES    GULU UNIVERSITY
52. Dr. HENRY BUREGEA VC LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
53. MR. PATRICK OUKE                AR LIVINGSTONE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
54. MS. CATHERINE NANYONGA SECRETARIAT
55. MS. SUZANNE KWESIGA        SECRETARIAT

MEMBERS ABSENT WITH APOLOGY

1. Prof Ismail Gyanendra-Rector IUIU
2. Dr. Charles Masaba – Vice Chancellor St Lawrence University
3. Dr. James Nkata – Director Uganda Management Institute
4. Prof.  Mwalimu Musheshe-Vice Chancellor African Rural Universities
5. Prof. Anguma Simon Katrina-Acting Vice Chancellor Muni University.
6. Prof. John Mugisha – Vice Chancellor, Cavendish University (UVCF Vice Chairperson)
7. Prof. Jude Lubega -Vice Chancellor Nkumba University

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