Makerere University main building
The 2024-2025 academic year in most of Uganda’s public and private universities will open this August. But as the clock ticks to dates when universities expect to open their gates to thousands of freshers, many unsuspecting students may be admitted to courses (academic programs) that are not approved by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
Established to implement the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act of Parliament (UOTIA, 2001), NCHE is the regulator of higher education in Uganda, with a key say in the establishment of institutions of higher learning and delivery of quality and relevant education to students.
Approval and periodic renewal of courses and academic programs falls under its mandate. But with financing and human resource challenges at both NCHE and in universities make quick review of the courses upon expiry.
Consequently, some universities opt to admit students on unapproved courses or academic programs which are under review at the NCHE. Upon completion of their studies at Ugandan universities, graduates find it difficult to secure jobs or opportunities to further their education outside the country.
Last year, there was noise over expired courses and degrees. And now, recent reports have put the number of academic programs flagged as under review or due for review (basically meaning that they are expired) at over 1,600.
Yet NCHE had given universities up to the end of November 2023 to submit applications for review of all academic programs or courses that had expired. The lists of expired courses for Kyambogo University and Makerere University are based on data from the NCHE website as at June 22, 2024.
The Pearl Times has found that tens of courses at Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest higher learning institution, had expired and were due for review. Expired courses or academic programs included both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Graduate programs in question included: Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics, Masters in Applied Mathematics, Master of Public Health Monitoring and Evaluation, Master of Science in Food Safety and Quality Management and Master of Science in Bioinformatics.
Other graduate courses were: Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Master of Public Health, Master of Public Health Monitoring and Evaluation, Master of Science in Food Safety and Quality Management, Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Master of Public Health.
Also pending review were: Master of Higher Education, Master of Emergency Medicine, Master of Emergency Medicine, Master of Science in Forestry and Biodiversity Management, Master of Education, Master of Science in Livestock Development and Management and Master of Biostatistics.
Other unapproved master’s courses were: Master of Science in Wildlife Health and Management, Master of Education, Masters in Bioethics, Master of Science in Records and Archives Management, and Master of Health Informatics.
Makerere University also had several undergraduate courses or academic programs that were pending review. They included: Bachelor of Science in Water and Irrigation Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Bio-Processing Engineering, Bachelor of Youth Development Work, Bachelor of Industrial Livestock Business, Bachelor of Information Systems and Technology and Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
| Course (Academic Program) | Last Review | Expiry Date | |
| 1 | Bachelor of Industrial Livestock Business | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 2 | Bachelor of Information Systems and Technology | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 3 | Bachelor of Science in Bio-Processing Engineering | 27-08-2018 | 27-08-2023 |
| 4 | Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 5 | Bachelor of Science in Water and Irrigation Engineering | 27-08-2018 | 27-08-2023 |
| 6 | Bachelor of Youth Development Work | 27-11-2017 | 27-11-2022 |
| 7 | Master of Biostatistics | 27-08-2018 | 27-08-2023 |
| 8 | Master of Education | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 9 | Master of Emergency Medicine | 27-08-2018 | 27-08-2023 |
| 10 | Master of Health Informatics | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 11 | Master of Higher Education | 27-08-2018 | 27-08-2023 |
| 12 | Master of Public Health | 30-11-2018 | 30-11-2023 |
| 13 | Master of Public Health Monitoring and Evaluation | 30-11-2018 | 30-11-2023 |
| 14 | Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 15 | Master of Science in Bioinformatics | 30-11-2018 | 30-11-2023 |
| 16 | Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 30-11-2018 | 30-11-2023 |
| 17 | Master of Science in Food Safety and Quality Management | 30-11-2018 | 30-11-2023 |
| 18 | Master of Science in Forestry and Biodiversity Management | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 19 | Master of Science in Livestock Development and Management | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 20 | Master of Science in Records and Archives Management | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 21 | Master of Science in Wildlife Health and Management | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 22 | Masters in Applied Mathematics | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 23 | Masters in Bioethics | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
For Kyambogo, Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya is the Chairperson of NCHE Council. But ironically, a little over 60 courses or academic programs are expired, pending review. At Kyambogo, courses or academic programs at undergraduate (bachelor and diploma) level, and postgraduate (postgraduate diploma and master’s) level are considered expired. At undergraduate (bachelor) level, courses in question include: Bachelor of Administrative Science, Bachelor of Adult and Community Education, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts Education, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Bachelor of Arts in Security and Diplomatic Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.
Other undergraduate courses are: Bachelor of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Community Based Rehabilitation, Bachelor of Community Development and Social Justice, Bachelor of Demography and Reproductive Health, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, and Bachelor of Education – Arts.
Bachelor of Education – Primary, Bachelor of Education – Science, Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Arts) and Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Science), Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Vocational Studies), Bachelor of Education (Computer and Geography), Bachelor of Education (Physics and Mathematics), Bachelor of Education in Education, Bachelor of Education -Secondary (Business Studies) and Bachelor of Education, Special Needs Education are the other undergraduate courses considered expired.
Also pending review are: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering in Automotive and Power Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering, Bachelor of Guidance and Counselling, Bachelor of Hotel and Institutional Catering, Bachelor of Industrial Art and Design and Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Management.
Also either under review or due for review are: Bachelor of Information Technology and Computing, Bachelor of Interior and Landscape Design, Bachelor of Oil and Gas Production, Bachelor of Performing Arts, Bachelor of Public Administration and Resource Governance, Bachelor of Science Education- (Computer and Geography) and Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Instruction.
The other expired bachelor’s courses are: Bachelor of Science with Education, Bachelor of Science with Education (Biology Chemistry), Bachelor of Science with Education (Physics -Mathematics) and Bachelor of Science with Education Economics and Physical Education.
Undergraduate diplomas pending review are: Diploma in Accounting and Finance, Diploma in Business Administration, Diploma in Computer Engineering, Diploma in Deaf Studies, Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Diploma in Food Processing Technology, Diploma in Microfinance, Diploma in Printing Technology, Diploma in Special Needs Education, Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering and Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
Expired postgraduate diplomas include: Postgraduate Diploma in Community Based Rehabilitation, Postgraduate Diploma in Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Postgraduate Diploma in Security and Diplomatic Studies.
Postgraduate degree courses or academic programs pending review are: Master in Education Educational Foundations, Master of Arts in Economics, Master of Arts in Music Education, Master of Arts in Public Administration and Resource Governance, Master of Arts in Security and Diplomatic Studies, Master of Public Health and Master of Science in Water and Sanitation Engineering.
| Academic Program (Course) | Last Review | Expiry Date | |
| 1 | Bachelor of Administrative Science | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 2 | Bachelor of Adult and Community Education | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 3 | Bachelor of Arts | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 4 | Bachelor of Arts Education | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 5 | Bachelor of Arts in Economics | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 6 | Bachelor of Arts in Security and Diplomatic Studies | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 7 | Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 8 | Bachelor of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 9 | Bachelor of Community Based Rehabilitation | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 10 | Bachelor of Community Development and Social Justice | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 11 | Bachelor of Demography and Reproductive Health | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 12 | Bachelor of Economics and Statistics | 27-11-2017 | 27-11-2022 |
| 13 | Bachelor of Education – Arts | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 14 | Bachelor of Education – Primary | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 15 | Bachelor of Education – Science | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 16 | Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Arts) | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 17 | Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Science) | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 18 | Bachelor of Education – Secondary (Vocational Studies) | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 19 | Bachelor of Education (Computer and Geography) | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 20 | Bachelor of Education (Physics and Mathematics) | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 21 | Bachelor of Education in Education | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 22 | Bachelor of Education -Secondary (Business Studies) | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 23 | Bachelor of Education, Special Needs Education | 20-02-2018 | 20-02-2023 |
| 24 | Bachelor of Electrical Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 25 | Bachelor of Engineering in Automotive and Power Engineering | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 26 | Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 27 | Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 28 | Bachelor of Guidance and Counselling | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 29 | Bachelor of Hotel and Institutional Catering | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 30 | Bachelor of Industrial Art and Design | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 31 | Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Management | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 32 | Bachelor of Information Technology and Computing | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 33 | Bachelor of Interior and Landscape Design | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 34 | Bachelor of Oil and Gas Production | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 35 | Bachelor of Performing Arts | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 36 | Bachelor of Public Administration and Resource Governance | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 37 | Bachelor of Science Education- (Computer and Geography) | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 38 | Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Instruction | 27-11-2017 | 27-11-2022 |
| 39 | Bachelor of Science with Education | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 40 | Bachelor of Science with Education (Biology Chemistry) | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 41 | Bachelor of Science with Education (Physics -Mathematics) | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 42 | Bachelor of Science with Education Economics and Physical Education | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 43 | Diploma in Accounting and Finance | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 44 | Diploma in Business Administration | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 45 | Diploma in Computer Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 46 | Diploma in Deaf Studies | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 47 | Diploma in Electrical Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 48 | Diploma in Food Processing Technology | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 49 | Diploma in Microfinance | 30-03-2016 | 30-03-2021 |
| 50 | Diploma in Printing Technology | 27-06-2016 | 27-06-2021 |
| 51 | Diploma in Special Needs Education | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 52 | Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 53 | Higher Diploma in Electrical Engineering | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 54 | Master in Education Educational Foundations | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 55 | Master of Arts in Economics | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 56 | Master of Arts in Music Education | 19-12-2016 | 19-12-2021 |
| 57 | Master of Arts in Public Administration and Resource Governance | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 58 | Master of Arts in Security and Diplomatic Studies | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
| 59 | Master of Public Health | 27-11-2017 | 27-11-2022 |
| 60 | Master of Science in Water and Sanitation Engineering | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 61 | Postgraduate Diploma in Community Based Rehabilitation | 28-08-2017 | 28-08-2022 |
| 62 | Postgraduate Diploma in Manufacturing Systems Engineering | 21-12-2015 | 21-12-2020 |
| 63 | Postgraduate Diploma in Security and Diplomatic Studies | 7/6/2019 | 7/6/2024 |
Previously, there were reports that Nigeria had rejected Ugandan degree certificates. But the regulator, NCHE, denied the reports.
In 2023, The Pearl Times reported about the so many expired courses or academic programs offered at many universities and institutes across the country where parents pay millions of money. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Meanwhile, you can check out the list of best and worst Ugandan universities and Institutes in 2024 Here.
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