Government Assures Public Over Legitimacy of Mbarara University Pharmacy Degrees

The Ministry of Education and Sports has stepped in to reassure students and the public regarding the academic credentials of the pharmacy program at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). Speaking before Parliament, the Minister of State for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, delivered a joint statement alongside the Attorney General affirming that the university’s pharmacy degrees are entirely lawful and recognized.

This official clarification follows public concern sparked by a notice from the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), which had previously disputed the validity of the academic program. Minister Ogwang dismissed the PSU’s concerns as unfounded, noting that prior issues raised by the regulatory body were properly addressed with the involvement of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

To resolve leadership contentions within the department, the university has appointed Dr. Jonans Tusiimire as the Acting Head of the Department of Pharmacy for a three-month period. Dr. Tusiimire is a senior lecturer, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and notably serves as the President of the PSU. Lawmakers during the parliamentary session, however, pointed out that internal politics and administrative bickering were fueling the crisis.

MPs expressed deep concern that institutional infighting unfairly penalizes students, urging the government to permanently fill key leadership positions to prevent future uncertainty. Meanwhile, government representatives announced that upcoming legislative amendments will soon address any legal ambiguities concerning the roles and supremacy of the NCHE versus professional regulatory bodies like the PSU.

For more details on this parliamentary update, read the full story on the Parliament of Uganda.