Parliament Committee Seeks Review of Disputed Ernest Cook University Degrees

The Parliament Committee on Education and Sports has called for a review of degrees awarded by Ernest Cook University that have been rejected by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

This recommendation comes after the committee investigated a petition filed by Dr. Henry Garvin Mukalazi and other affected graduates. The petitioners allege that the university enrolled students in Bachelor’s programs for Diagnostic Ultrasound and Medical Imaging prior to obtaining the necessary accreditation for these courses.

Presenting the committee’s findings, Chairperson Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho stated that evidence indicated students were admitted to the Bachelor of Diagnostic Ultrasound program as early as 2011, even though the program was only accredited in December 2013. The committee also pointed to NCHE’s perceived lack of sufficient oversight, noting that NCHE was aware of the university’s student enrollment and even suggested an affiliation with Gulu University.

The committee has proposed the formation of a joint review committee. This body would consist of representatives from NCHE, Ernest Cook University, and the Allied Health Professionals Council. Its mandate would be to assess each affected graduate individually, determining if bridging courses, remedial training, or other measures are required to meet professional standards.

Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), Hon. Peter Ogwang, acknowledged that Dr. Mukalazi had previously taken the matter to court, where NCHE was initially successful. However, the ministry has since intervened to help facilitate a resolution and has urged NCHE to conduct a thorough investigation into the university’s admission requirements and program accreditation compliance.

Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth cautioned that Parliament could not overturn a court judgment but directed the Minister to expedite the ongoing review and provide a report on the actions taken.

Source: Parliament of Uganda