Ugandan government scraps over 1,000 university courses, scores stranded
Uganda’s government has scrapped over 1,000 university programmes over failure to meet review requirements.
The decision, implemented through the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), has left thousands of students stranded.
These programmes were delisted after the affected universities failed to update them in line with the NCHE’s standards, according to local reports.
Most of the affected courses, mainly bachelor's degree programmes that were previously tagged as “expired,” have now been given a “due for review” label.
This move means that universities cannot admit students to these courses, and it complicates verification processes for students seeking education abroad.
Some students have already faced challenges, with foreign universities rejecting their Ugandan degrees.
Major institutions, including Makerere University, Kyambogo University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, have been affected.
Courses like Makerere’s Bachelor of Laws and Mbarara’s Master of Science in Physiology have been delisted, which means no new admissions until the reviews are complete.
Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, Makerere’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of academics, explained that the review process involves extensive quality checks, laboratory verifications, and consultations with professional bodies.
