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32 universities face closure

By Apollo Mubiru
~-~d _Raymond_Kamusiime_______ _

Thirty-two universities that

have operated for more than -
three mandated years under a
provisional licence face closure if
they do not expedite the process of
acquiring a charter.
These universities have been
given a 12-month ultimatum
to acquire a charter be closed,
the National Council for Higher
Education's (NCHE), acting
Executive Director, Dr Alex
Mugisha Kagume, announced
yesterday.
"We do not expect a university to
operate on a provisional licence for
years without upgrading. We are • .'. . celebrating
discussing and reminding them Graduands t Makerere
of a legal obligation 10 acquire their suc~ess _aty last year
Univers1
a charter starus." Kagume told a
news conference yesterday.
According to NCHE, there are He said universities should be
universities in the country which given time to build capacity in
have been in existence for close to UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT A CHARTER
terms of human resource and
two decades but have never got a Management University infrastructure.
• Aga Khan University
charter. • African Renewal "The law does not provide for an
The affected universities have a • Kum! University
• African Bible College of University upper limit for a university to be
combined student population of • Nsaka University chartered. To me, the appropriate
over 400,000, who may be affected Uganda
• Uganda Pentecostal • lbanda University upper limit can be JO years. NCHE
by NCHE's decision. • University of Kisubl lacks the staff and the capacity
Section 97 (3) of the Universities University
• St. Lawrence University • Kaylwa International to check universities that seek to
and Other Tertiary lnstitutions Act University upgrade from a provisional licence
requires that a provisional licence • Muteesa I Royal
University • Valley University of to a charter status." Byararnureeba
issued to a private university shall Science and
• All Saints University, said.
be valid for at least three years Technology He said for a university to be
from the date of publication of the Lango
• Clarke International • Team University chartered, it should meet all the
gazette by the NCHE. • Great Lakes University requirements, instead of attaining
A provisional licence is a University
• Cavendish University • ISBAT University what he termed as an artificial
certificate granted by NCHE to • Ankole Western upgrade, which may affect the
• International University
an applicant wishing to start a of East Africa University
private university. At the point quality of education.
• Victoria University • University of the Sacred Muteesa I Royal University vice-
of application. a letter of interim • Metropolitan
authority should be valid. • African Rural University chancellor Prof Umar Ahmad
• Livingstone International University Kasule said the ultimatum set is
A charter is granted to • Avance International
International University good enough for them to comply.
w1i\·ersities that have satisfied all University
the conditions set for licensing. • St. Augustine
International University • University of St. Joseph, Requirements for a charter
Granted bv the Head of State. Mbarara
it defines the governance of the • Virtual University of A charter is granted to universities
Uganda • Nile University that have demonstrated high
university: its objectS, stannes, • Fins Medical University
ordinances, regulations, officers • Uganda Technology and quality in staffing, teaching
and powers, including those that and learning, research output.
allow the institution 10 award extension services, infrastructural
degrees. the law to remain relevant to Mountains of the Moon, Uganda development and good
Kagume addressed the media in Ugandans," Kagume said. Christian University, Nkumba governance, among others.
the company of senior legal and The affected universities University, Kampala International For any institution to be
corporate affairs officer. Faridall yesterday had a day-long meeting University, Ndejje University, accredited. NCH£ must be satL~lied
Bu kinva, director of quality at NCHE headquarters in Bugema University, Bishop Stuart after a series of inspection.~ and
assurance and accreditation, Dr Kyambogo, Kampala University, Kampala University vL~itation.~. that the institution
P'amela Tibihikirra Kalyegira Uganda has more than 60 and Uganda Martyrs University, concerned has adequate physical
and head of institutions and universities. Ten are public Nkozi. and financial re.~ource.~. \'iahle
programmes accreditation, Dr Pius universities run by the programmes. adequate qualified
Achanga Government, while 45 are private. Universities react staff and structures of governance
He said the intention of holding The chartered public universities ProfVcnansius Byaramurceba, the to deliver quality higher education.
dialogue with such universities are Busitema University, Gulu chancellor of lhanda University The Universities and other
was not to close them. but for University, Kabale University, and chairperson of the board of Tertiary Institutions Act states that
quality assurance in higher Kyarnbogo University, Ura directors, Uganda Technology charter is granted by the President
institutions of learning. University, Ma.kerere University, and Management University as evidence that the university
"lf they fail to adhere to the set Muni University and Soroti (lITAMU). said chartering meets the requirements and
guidelines, we shall close them. Universitv. universities is good, but it should standards of academic excellence
These uniwr..i ties should follow Private chartered universities are not be hurriedly done. set by the NCHE.