The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has approved the grant of a Charter to Muteesa I Royal University (MRU).
This was according to a letter dated 25th January from NCHE Executive Director Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol to MRU Vice Chancellor.
Muteesa I Royal University initially made an application to the Council which had to be reviewed amidst other assessments.
Resultantly, during NCHE’s 68th Meeting held on 20th January, 2023, the council considered and resolved to recommend to the Minister, the grant of a Charter to MRU in accordance with Section 101(3) b of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, as amended.
“The purpose of this letter therefore is to inform you of the Council decision regarding the grant of a Charter to MRU, and to require you to pay the statutory License fees of UGX 15,000,000 only (equivalent to 750 currency points) to the NCHE through the URA web portal, www.ura.go. in accordance with Section 3(2) (b) of the regulation,” the ED directed.
Prior to fully receiving the Charter, there will be a submission of the Charter to the Minister responsible for Education who subsequently presents it to the President for final approval, before gazettement of the same.
Muteesa I Royal University has been ecstatic about this news, coming at a time when it was listed amongst private universities without Charters that are on the verge of closure.
According to the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act, a charter is “granted by the President as evidence that the university meets the requirements and standards of academic excellence set by the NCHE.”
Furthermore, according to section 103(a) of the same Act 2001 as amended; a chartered university means a university that is comparable to a public university.
For any private university, getting a charter means, therefore, that it lays out guidelines for; establishment, control, management and administration of the institution.
