The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has commenced the process of equating academic qualifications of refugees in Uganda to make acceptable, locally.

NCHE explained that it will facilitate progression in career and study opportunities, employability and mobility of labour among refugees.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report, Uganda is the largest refugee-country in Africa with over 1.5 million representing about 3.3% of the country’s total population.

In a speech read for her by state minister for elderly affairs, Gidudu Mafaabi, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi said for the last three decades, under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s leadership, Uganda’s open-door policy towards displaced persons coupled with its robust legal framework has made Uganda the safest spot for refugees.

Amongi noted that Uganda has created the safest security corridor for people running away from conflicts, human rights violations and famine, among others.

Amongi said such efforts will contribute to achieving the Government’s commitments on the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030.

Dr Robert Ayine, the focal person in charge of recognition and equating of refugees’ qualifications, narrated his experience in the refugee camps of Nakivale in Isingiro district and Rhino Camp in Terego district (West Nile), saying the majority of the refugees have qualifications but no opportunities of equating for purposes of looking for jobs.

What NCHE says

Prof. Mary Okwakol, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) executive director, explained that the council is finding it difficult in getting verification of students from their former institutions which are supposed to give the go-ahead of equating and recognising them according to Ugandan standards.

“After equating a qualification, we have to recognise it but only qualifications that have been approved by a country where the person obtained it from,” Okwakol said.

She appealed to government for funds due to the high number of applicants who want to be equated.