YOU DON’T HAVE THE POWERS! NCHE Clashes with Pharmaceutical Society Over MUST Pharmacy Course Recognition as Confusion Deepens

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has challenged the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) over its decision to withdraw recognition of Mbarara University of Science and Technology’s Bachelor of Pharmacy programme, declaring that the course remains fully accredited and that teaching should continue.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, NCHE said the Pharmaceutical Society had acted unilaterally in announcing the withdrawal without consulting the national higher education regulator, which it said holds the statutory authority to recognise academic qualifications and withdraw that recognition.

“The National Council for Higher Education was neither involved nor consulted in the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda’s unilateral decision to withdraw its recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology,” the council said.

NCHE went further, stating categorically that MUST’s pharmacy programme remained accredited and that its accreditation had not been withdrawn.

“The teaching and learning of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology should continue,” the council said.

The dispute follows an October 19 notice in which PSU announced that it had withdrawn recognition of MUST’s pharmacy programme with immediate effect, citing concerns about departmental leadership, staffing shortages and the university’s failure to respond to a notice requiring it to explain why recognition should not be withdrawn.

The disagreement has raised questions about the respective powers of the higher education regulator and the professional body responsible for safeguarding pharmacy training standards, while leaving students and their families seeking clarity about the implications for their studies, internships and professional examinations.

The three institutions have presented different perspectives on the dispute, with PSU defending its intervention, MUST explaining the staffing changes that triggered the action, and NCHE insisting that the programme remains accredited under its authority.

Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda: ‘Grave Concern’ Over Leadership and Staffing

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda says its decision to withdraw recognition of MUST’s Bachelor of Pharmacy programme followed concerns about the management and staffing of the university’s Department of Pharmacy.

In a public notice dated October 19, the society said its council had examined the department’s circumstances during its 127th Ordinary Council Meeting on September 4, 2026.

“At its 127th Ordinary Council Meeting held on Friday, 4th September 2026, Council noted with grave concern that the Department of Pharmacy at MUST, running a Bachelor of Pharmacy program recognized by PSU Council vide Public Notice dated 16th April 2026, was headed in acting capacity by a non-pharmacist (nurse by profession), had inadequate number of staff, and the University had not issued any internal or external advert to substantively fill the position of Head of Department,” the notice said.

The society’s concerns centred on three issues: the professional background of the acting head of department, the number of academic staff available to teach the programme and the university’s failure to advertise the vacant leadership position.

PSU said it had given the university an opportunity to explain its position before taking the decision.

“Pursuant to this, Council issued a Show Cause Notice Ref: 300/PSU/2026 dated 10th September 2026 requiring MUST to show cause within 30 days why recognition should not be withdrawn and students transferred,” the society said.

It added: “MUST has failed to respond to the said notice within the stipulated period.”

According to PSU, the failure to respond prompted its council to take further action at an emergency meeting held at Pharmacy House in Kyambogo.

“At its 61st Emergency Council Meeting held at Pharmacy House, Kyambogo, the PSU Council deliberated and resolved to withdraw its recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at Mbarara University of Science and Technology with immediate effect from the date of this notice,” the statement said.

The consequences outlined in the notice go beyond the university’s institutional relationship with the professional body.

PSU said it would not recognise qualifications obtained where courses were taught or assessed during the period of de-recognition. It also suspended the issuance of pharmacy student numbers, recognition of internship placements and eligibility for pre-internship and pre-registration qualifying examinations for new MUST graduates until compliance was restored.

The notice advised students already enrolled in the programme to consider transferring to other universities recognised by PSU or wait for MUST to address the outstanding concerns.

“Current students enrolled on the BPharm program at MUST are advised to either seek transfer to other PSU Council-recognized universities or await compliance by MUST,” the society said.

However, PSU left open the possibility of restoring recognition after the university addresses the concerns raised.

“Should MUST comply with the PSU Council inspection findings sent to the university vice chancellor and issues raised in the Show Cause Notice, a follow-up inspection shall be conducted to assess compliance and inform further action,” the statement said.

The society defended its intervention by invoking Section 22(2) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, Cap 309, saying it remained committed to its statutory responsibility to safeguard pharmacy training standards.

“Council remains committed to its statutory mandate under Section 22(2) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act Cap 309 to safeguard Pharmacy training standards,” PSU said.

The notice was signed by Dr Stephen Lutoti, the society’s secretary, and copied to the executive director of NCHE, the Commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, the MUST vice chancellor and the president of the university’s Pharmacy Students Association.

The subsequent response from NCHE, however, directly challenged the basis on which PSU announced its decision, particularly the implications for the recognition of academic qualifications.

Mbarara University: Staffing Gap Was Temporary, Recruitment Is Underway

MUST has defended its handling of the Department of Pharmacy, saying the leadership gap arose after the resignation of its former head of department and that the university took administrative measures to keep teaching and other academic activities running.

In a letter dated October 20, Vice Chancellor Professor Pauline Byakika Kibwika told NCHE Executive Director Professor Mary J. N. Okwakol that the university had not deliberately left the department without a plan to fill the vacant position.

“In May, 2026, the Head of Department of Pharmacy, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy, tendered in his resignation with effect from July, 2026, on account of his wish to serve at another Public University within Uganda, at a higher position as Professor of Pharmacy,” she wrote.

The university said its management submitted the resignation to the Appointments Board, which accepted it before the academic departed.

MUST then attempted to find a replacement through an internal process.

“In July, 2026, the Academic Registrar called for elections for Head of Department. However, there was no Pharmacist at the level of Senior Lecturer or above to fill the position,” the vice chancellor said.

The university said a candidate was nominated by the deputy dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, who is also the president of PSU and a senior lecturer at MUST.

Although the candidate had a nursing background rather than a professional pharmacy qualification, the university argued that her academic credentials and experience made her suitable for a temporary administrative arrangement.

The vice chancellor listed her qualifications as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a postgraduate diploma in project planning and management, a Master of Public Health, a doctorate in pharmacology specialising in pharmaco-epidemiology, postdoctoral training in reproductive health and infectious diseases, and an advanced diploma in clinical trials and administration.

She also had more than 15 years of experience leading and coordinating interventional studies, according to the letter.

“Her seniority, longstanding departmental service and familiarity with its academic activities informed this interim arrangement,” Professor Byakika Kibwika wrote.

The university acknowledged the professional distinction at the centre of the dispute but argued that pharmacy education involves disciplines taught by professionals from different backgrounds.

“Although she is not a pharmacist by professional qualification, her teaching and research contributions include clinical trials, pharmacoepidemiology and research methods, which are core course units among many others, to Pharmacy training,” the vice chancellor said.

She added that the programme included courses requiring interprofessional education and practice, which were taught by non-pharmacists, while pharmacists handled the core pharmacy units.

“It is important to note that the Bachelor of Pharmacy Program has a number of course units that require Interprofessional Education and Practice and are taught by non-Pharmacists, with the Pharmacists teaching the core Pharmacy course units,” she wrote.

MUST also argued that the head of department was responsible for coordinating academic and administrative work rather than personally teaching every course.

“The Head of Department does not necessarily have to teach all courses, but ensures smooth flow of all teaching, research and administrative functions of the Department,” the letter said.

The university said it appointed the acting head for only three months because the new academic year was scheduled to open on August 10, creating an urgent need to ensure that the department was ready to receive students.

The temporary arrangement was also influenced by public-sector recruitment and budgetary requirements, according to the vice chancellor.

Management had to seek wage funding from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and obtain clearance from the Ministry of Public Service before proceeding with recruitment or promotion.

“Upon realization of wage, Management sought for clearance from Ministry of Public Service to recruit or promote staff for the Department of Pharmacy including replacement of the Head of Department in substantive appointment,” she wrote.

“The clearance was obtained on 14th October, 2026.”

MUST said it would advertise positions for an associate professor and senior lecturer in the coming weeks, with recruitment and selection expected to be completed by December 2026, subject to the prescribed procedures.

The university also announced a change in leadership following the controversy.

“Pending completion of the substantive appointment process; Management has appointed Dr Jonans Tusiime, who is currently a Senior Lecturer and the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at MUST, and also serving as the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, as Acting Head of Department of Pharmacy at MUST, for a period of three months with effect from 19th October 2026,” the vice chancellor said.

The appointment, MUST added, placed the department under the leadership of a pharmacist while the recruitment process continued.

Dr Tusiime would provide academic and administrative leadership and ensure that pharmacy expertise remained central to decisions on programme design, delivery, staffing and resource management, the university said.

The appointment is particularly significant because Dr Tusiime also heads PSU, the very organisation that withdrew recognition of the programme.

MUST said the report submitted by the outgoing acting head showed that lectures, student attachments, clinical exposure and other planned activities had been covered.

It nevertheless acknowledged that staffing arrangements needed to be assessed against student numbers, subject coverage and staff workloads. The university said it had compiled a schedule detailing staff qualifications, professional registration, employment status, teaching allocations and workloads to facilitate verification.

The dispute, however, has caused anxiety among students and parents, prompting the university to seek an explicit clarification of their position.

“The public notice by PSU has understandably caused considerable anxiety among our students and parents,” Professor Byakika Kibwika wrote.

She asked that any decision on recognition clarify the status of teaching, assessments, student registration, internship placements and eligibility for professional examinations.

“Should verification require an intervening period, we request written interim arrangements specifying whether, and on what conditions, teaching and assessment may continue and be recognised,” she said.

The vice chancellor added that the university remained committed to professional standards and cooperation with the society.

“MUST values its longstanding relationship with PSU and remains committed to constructive cooperation within our respective statutory responsibilities,” she wrote.

It was against this backdrop that NCHE issued its statement on October 21, rejecting the suggestion that PSU’s notice had withdrawn the programme’s accreditation.

NCHE: ‘Withdrawal of Recognition’ Is Our Mandate

NCHE has taken the strongest position in the dispute, asserting that the authority to withdraw recognition of academic qualifications rests with the national higher education regulator rather than PSU acting on its own.

In its October 21 clarification, the council referred to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap. 262, which establishes its responsibilities for accrediting higher education programmes, investigating complaints and recognising academic qualifications.

Under Section 4(d)(ii), NCHE is mandated to “receive, consider and process applications for accreditation of academic and professional programmes of higher education institutions, in consultation with professional associations and regulatory bodies,” the statement said.

It also cited Section 4(f), which empowers the council to “receive and investigate complaints relating to institutions of higher education and take appropriate action.”

For the recognition of academic qualifications, NCHE pointed to Section 4(i) of the Act.

“The mandate of recognition of academic qualifications rests with the National Council for Higher Education, as mandated under Section 4(i) of the Act,” the statement said.

The regulator said MUST’s Bachelor of Pharmacy programme had been accredited since 2010 and had undergone several subsequent re-accreditations.

“The most recent re-accreditation was granted on 30th January 2025, for the programme to run up to 2036,” NCHE said.

It added that the re-accreditations had been granted in consultation with PSU, as required by law.

The council’s objection was not that professional associations had no role in maintaining standards, but that PSU had announced a withdrawal of recognition without involving the body responsible for academic accreditation.

“The National Council for Higher Education was neither involved nor consulted in the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda’s unilateral decision to withdraw its recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology,” the statement said.

NCHE then set out its position on the legal consequences of PSU’s decision.

“Withdrawal of recognition of qualifications of graduates of a given programme or academic institution is the preserve of the National Council for Higher Education,” it said.

The statement also addressed the leadership changes that had triggered the dispute, confirming that MUST’s former head of department was an associate professor of pharmacy who resigned in July 2026 to join another academic institution after being promoted to full professor.

The university had temporarily appointed a senior lecturer with a nursing background and a doctorate in pharmacology from Ghent University in Belgium, NCHE said.

It further noted that the current acting head of the department was a pharmacist who also served as PSU president.

The regulator did not announce that it had completed a fresh investigation into PSU’s staffing complaints. Instead, it reaffirmed the programme’s accreditation status and instructed that academic activities should continue.

NCHE’s position was unequivocal.

“The Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology is fully accredited,” it said.

“The accreditation has not been withdrawn by the National Council for Higher Education.”

The council concluded: “The teaching and learning of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology should continue.”

It also maintained that it remained open to receiving and investigating complaints concerning higher education institutions in Uganda.

That leaves the central dispute unresolved: PSU has announced that it will not recognise qualifications obtained during the de-recognition period and has suspended several steps required for graduates to enter professional practice, while NCHE says the programme remains accredited and teaching should continue.

For students, the difference is consequential. Continuing classes under NCHE’s position does not, by itself, explain how PSU will handle student numbers, internship placements or professional qualifying examinations while its withdrawal notice remains in force.

MUST has asked for written interim arrangements to protect students as the university addresses the staffing concerns and completes recruitment.

NCHE, meanwhile, has made clear that PSU’s notice did not withdraw the programme’s accreditation under the national regulatory framework.

The immediate question is therefore not simply whether MUST can continue teaching pharmacy. It is how the two institutions will reconcile their positions so that students do not find themselves caught between a programme that the national regulator says remains accredited and a professional body that has warned it will not recognise qualifications obtained during the period of de-recognition.

Until the disagreement is resolved, the university’s recruitment plans, any further inspections and the respective institutions’ interpretation of their statutory responsibilities will be central to determining the future of the programme and the professional progression of its students.