Uganda Christian University (UCU) is obliged to respond to an article that appeared in The Observer newspaper of 29th August 2016. Under the headline “4 Universities producing fake nurses”. We observe that this story went beyond informing the public and bordered on inciting readers against the four Universities, and in particular Uganda Christian University.
The story contained several inaccuracies. Below are some:
i) That the Nursing degrees offered by Uganda Christian University, Bishop Stuart University, International Health Sciences University, and Kampala International University were “fake”: The word “fake” means “not genuine; “a forgery”; “a sham”…
While it is true that the students in question were admitted with one subject less than the minimum requirements (Biology or Chemistry), there is no indication that their programme of study was not accredited or that they were not taught properly or that they did not acquire adequate nursing knowledge and skills. Fakeness here connotes a deliberate effort to deliver a counterfeit, which is certainly not the case.
ii) That when students of nursing sought clarification on their plight, they were “threatened”: UCU staff and top administration has held several meetings with the affected nursing students, dialogued with them and tried together to find a solution to the problem. While a solution to the dilemma has not yet been found, the door for dialogue has remained open. Besides, the University has considered several options with them to break this stalemate, wishing to find the least inconveniencing for them.
iii) That the nursing students are “victims of fraudulent misrepresentation by the university which admitted and collected tuition from them for four years in contravention of the criteria set by the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council (UNMC) which is the mandated regulator for this course”: UCU has held transparent discussions with the students, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and UNMC over the last two years. UCU has further attempted to make up for the deficiency in Chemistry by offering remedial courses and seeking NCHE’s permission to set up a bridging course.
Admittedly, these solutions have been slowed down by the need for concrete feedback from various stakeholders, but these are not the actions of people whose only interest is in collecting money from students as is being represented.
iv) That “the UCU Vice Chancellor Dr John Senyonyi, is more than an ordinary member of the NCHE; he Chairs two committees of the NCHE (the Quality and Accreditation Committee and the Audit and Risk Management Committee)” thus impugning his conflict of interest during the NCHE’s discussion of the matter.
While the Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University indeed Chairs two committees at the National Council for Higher Education, he is a person of integrity who recuses himself when such conflict arises. The Minutes of Council will bear this out.
The language of The Observer article of 29th August 2016 is deliberately inflammatory and is unlikely to contribute to a solution to a clearly complex situation that has pulled in several regulatory bodies.
Professionalism demands that The Observer report the facts of this story accurately and fairly as well as seek to minimise harm. UCU is optimistic that a win-win solution will be found, and appeals to all concerned, including the media, to help toward a solution for the good of these students.
In the meantime, it is important to reiterate that our nursing programme is both accredited by the NCHE and has, since inception, graduated hundreds of nurses, many of whom currently serve Ugandans in health centres across the country with the kind of selfless dedication and Christ-like attitude that our graduates are increasingly reputed for. We continue to do all we can in pursuit of our mission: To Equip students for productive, holistic lives of Christian faith and service.
Signed
MANAGEMENT
Uganda Christian University
