NCHE Orders Kyambogo University to Close "illegal" study centres with 1,000 students

Story By; URN

The fate of 1,129 students of Kyambogo University hangs in the balance following the recent declaration by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) that they are being taught at illegal, unrecognized centres.

According to NCHE, these centres include Bushenyi and Soroti campuses, the former Kamurasi Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) in Masindi, the former Kabwangasi PTC in Butebo, and the former Bukedea PTC in Bukedea. In a July 2, 2024 notice to Prof Katunguka, NCHE notes that Kyambogo’s continued operation of the centres contravenes the law.

However, Prof Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya, the Kyambogo University vice chancellor, maintains that NCHE has no mandate to stop institutions from creating learning centres. According to Section 25 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (UOTIA), a tertiary institution has to first get NCHE approval before creating new learning centres, which Kyambogo University has failed to do.

In essence, the courses taught at those centres are illegal and NCHE does not recognize the academic qualifications awarded to the graduates for employment and further studies.

“The location of a public university established under UOTIA shall as may be provided in the instrument establishing it; however, that university may, with the prior approval of NCHE, establish a branch or a campus of the university in any other part of Uganda,” reads part of the letter.

“We wish to remind you that NCHE does not recognise qualifications tenable from unapproved centres/campuses. The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to further require Kyambogo University to close the said illegal centres/campuses, and any other unapproved campuses that could be operating, with immediate effect.”

BACKGROUND

The controversy about the learning centres dates back to 2018 when Kyambogo University commenced operation of the Soroti and Bushenyi campuses. Prof Katunguka and staff disagreed on the establishment of upcountry study centres.

The staff, in a petition to the Inspectorate of Government, questioned the move by the university arguing that it was never approved by the University Council and NCHE as the law requires.