Kampala International University (KIU) has appointed Dr Samba Silvano Twinomujuni, a registered pharmacist, as Dean of its School of Pharmacy, responding to a Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) warning that threatened the recognition of its pharmacy programme.
In a letter to PSU Secretary Dr Stephen Lutoti dated November 2, Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammed Ngoma said the appointment took effect on October 30, 2026. PSU stamped the letter as received the same day.
On October 16, PSU gave KIU 30 days to prove that the head of pharmacy at its Western Campus in Ishaka was a pharmacist registered in Uganda, warning that the programme could otherwise be de-recognised.
Does he meet PSU’s standards?
Based on the details in KIU’s letter, Dr Twinomujuni appears to meet all four requirements PSU set out for the head of a pharmacy school:
| PSU requirement | Dr Twinomujuni, per KIU |
|---|---|
| Registered pharmacist in Uganda | Yes; Bachelor of Pharmacy (2008) |
| Valid PSU membership | PSU Registration No. 611 |
| At least a Master’s in a pharmacy discipline | MSc in Pharmacology (2014); PhD in Immunopharmacology (2024) |
| At least five years of university teaching | More than 16 years |
Prof Ngoma said he trusted the appointment addresses PSU’s concerns and reaffirms KIU’s commitment to the professional and academic standards that govern pharmacy education in Uganda.
Foreign staff
The letter also reveals that on October 28, KIU sent PSU details of 10 foreign pharmacy lecturers, with their supporting documents, seeking guidance on temporary professional registration and membership.
PSU has not yet said whether the appointment satisfies its requirements. It recently withdrew recognition of Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s BPharm programme and ordered Victoria University to halt classes for 314 pharmacy students admitted above its quota.
CampusBee has contacted PSU for comment and will update this story.
@campusbee.ug
