According to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), a total of 26 Ugandan private universities are at risk of being closed for operating with expired provisional licenses. In a closed meeting held with the affected universities yesterday, NCHE gave them a grace period of one year to obtain a charter, and failure to do so will lead to their immediate closure.
The NCHE added that provisional licenses for 11 universities are about to expire but the affected universities pleaded with NCHE to be added more time so that they can set up the required facilities.
According to Dr Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, the director of quality assurance and accreditation at NCHE, for a university to attain a charter, it should admit qualified students for specific programmes, have all their programmes accredited, have good facilities, PhD staff and should also conduct research and community services.
The Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act states that “a charter is granted by the President as evidence that the university meets the requirements and standards of academic excellence set by the NCHE.”
Dr Tibihikirra added that if the affected universities fail to hit the headline, they will either be merged, closed or be turned into vocational institutions. It should be noted that only 18 universities out of the 53 total universities in Uganda have been able to obtain the charter status from the President.
According to the Universities and other tertiary institutions Act, section 97(3), a provisional license issued to a private university shall be valid for at least three years from the date of publication of the gazette by the national council.
Below is the list of 26 universities which are likely to be closed over failure to obtain a charter in the next 12 months.
Africa Renewal University 2013
African Bible University 2015
African Rural University 2011
Ankole Western University 2008
Avance International University 2016
Cavendish University 2018
Clarke International University 2008
Ibanda University 2014
International Business, Science & Technology (ISBAT) University 2011 International University of East Africa 2010
Islamic Call University College 2011
Kayiwa International University 2015
Kumi University 2004
Livingstone International University 2011
Metropolitan International University (MIU)2011
Muteesa I Royal University 2007
Nile University 2018
Nsaka University 2013
St. Lawrence University2007
Uganda Pentecostal University 2005
University of Kisubi 2009
