Uganda expands pharmacy training as accredited universities nearly double

KAMPALA - Uganda has nearly doubled the number of universities accredited to teach pharmacy, in a move that signals a major expansion in the country’s capacity to train medicine experts amid growing healthcare demands.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), the body mandated to regulate pharmacy training and practice, has approved nine universities to offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme, up from about four institutions in 2024 to six in 2025.

The newly updated list, released in collaboration with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), includes Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Busitema University, Victoria University, Kampala International University Western Campus, as well as newer entrants such as Fins Medical University, Seeta University and Jeph International University.

The expansion reflects a deliberate push to grow Uganda’s pharmaceutical workforce, as the country grapples with increasing demand for safe medicine use, regulation, and specialised healthcare services.

Under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, the PSU is tasked with ensuring high standards in the training and practice of pharmacists. In a statement released by Dr. Lutoti Stephen, the Secretary, Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, the accreditation of more institutions is intended to widen access to training while maintaining strict oversight of quality.

“The universities must adhere to the required standards; the Council may withdraw their recognition,” the PSU said in a public notice issued on April 16, underscoring concerns about maintaining quality as training expands.

Only graduates from accredited institutions will be eligible for registration as pharmacists in Uganda, a requirement the Society says is critical to safeguarding patient safety and professional standards.

The reforms also introduce tighter tracking of students, where all pharmacy students are now required to register annually through the PSU student portal, where they are issued a unique identification number. The move is aimed at improving oversight from admission through to qualification.

In addition, Ugandans studying pharmacy abroad will be required to register with the PSU and sit qualifying examinations before being licensed to practice locally, a step intended to standardise training regardless of where it is obtained.

After completing their degree, graduates must pass pre-internship and post-internship examinations administered by the PSU Council before full registration.

These exams, held twice a year, are designed to ensure that all pharmacists meet nationally set competence standards.

Dr Lutoti said the increase in training institutions could help address gaps in pharmaceutical services, particularly in underserved and rural areas where access to qualified pharmacists remains limited.