Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) has appointed Dr Jonans Tusiimire, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), as Acting Head of its Department of Pharmacy, as the university moves to restore recognition of its pharmacy programme following a public notice by PSU.
In a letter dated October 20, 2026 to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Executive Director Prof. Mary Okwakol, Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika says the three-month appointment took effect on October 19 and “places the Department under the leadership of a Pharmacist at Senior Lecturer rank.”
How the gap opened
The trouble traces back to May 2026, when the department’s head, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy, resigned with effect from July to take up a full professorship at another public university.
When the Academic Registrar called elections for a new head in July, the letter says, there was no pharmacist at Senior Lecturer level or above to fill the role. One candidate was nominated by Dr Tusiimire himself: a Senior Lecturer in the department who holds a PhD in Pharmacology (Pharmaco-Epidemiology) and over 15 years of research experience, but who is not a pharmacist by professional qualification.
With the academic year opening on August 10, management appointed her in an acting capacity for three months, citing government guidelines against committing funds without an approved budget and Public Service approval for recruitment.
Recruitment underway
According to the VC, wage was secured from the Ministry of Finance and clearance to recruit was obtained from the Ministry of Public Service on October 14. MUST will advertise Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer positions in the coming weeks, with recruitment targeted for completion by December 2026. The substantive head will be drawn from those hires.
The university also says the outgoing acting head’s report shows all lectures, student attachments and clinical exposure were fully covered, and that it has compiled a schedule of staff qualifications and workloads for verification.
What about current students?
MUST acknowledges that PSU’s public notice “has understandably caused considerable anxiety among our students and parents.” The university is asking that any decision expressly clarify the recognition of teaching and assessments, and students’ standing on registration, internship placements and eligibility for professional exams.
If verification takes time, MUST wants written interim arrangements stating whether teaching can continue and be recognised, and how any affected learning will be remedied. The VC has asked that the response be placed before PSU Council urgently.
