Government Declares Mbarara University Pharmacy Degrees Legitimate Amid Dispute

The government has stepped in to resolve a brewing controversy surrounding the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). According to the Minister of State for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, degrees issued by the institution remain completely valid and lawful.

Speaking to Parliament while presenting a joint statement issued alongside the Attorney General, Minister Ogwang urged students and the general public to remain calm. He dismissed a notice previously issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) that disputed the academic program’s validity, noting that concerns raised by the regulatory body had already been addressed through the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

The controversy had partly hinged on leadership disputes regarding the university’s Department of Pharmacy. To restore stability, the university appointed Dr. Jonans Tusiimire, a senior lecturer and the President of the PSU, as the Acting Head of the Department of Pharmacy for a period of three months.

Lawmakers during the parliamentary session weighed in heavily on the matter. Hon. Denis Oneka Lit attributed the crisis to internal politics and institutional intrigue, calling on the ministry to investigate potential conflicts of interest. Other legislators, including Hon. Gerald Karuhanga and Hon. Andrew Kaluya, emphasized that students should never be made victims of institutional infighting, urging authorities to permanently fill key administrative positions.

To prevent future regulatory clashes, the government announced that legal uncertainties regarding the respective powers of the PSU and the NCHE will soon be addressed through legislative amendments.

Read more details on the official Parliament of Uganda.