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MUST appoints pharmacy programme head in bid to resolve degree row
The PSU suspended recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme on October 19, citing chronic understaffing, leadership gaps and the university's failure to heed previous warnings.
MUST appoints pharmacy programme head in bid to resolve degree row
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) has appointed an acting head of its pharmacy department and initiated emergency recruitment in a bid to reverse the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda's (PSU) withdrawal of recognition of the programme.
The PSU suspended recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme on October 19, citing chronic understaffing, leadership gaps and the university's failure to heed previous warnings.
The directive bars graduates from professional registration and licensing, and from sitting pre-registration examinations.
The regulator's position conflicts with that of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), which maintains that the programme's accreditation remains valid until 2036.
In an October 21 clarification, NCHE stated that it had re-accredited the programme on January 30, 2025, and directed the university to continue teaching.
In a November 2 letter to the PSU, MUST Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, outlined the corrective measures taken by the university.
MUST appointed Dr Jonans Tusiimire, an associate professor and deputy dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, as acting head of the Department of Pharmacy for a three-month term effective October 19. A substantive head is expected to be elected by December 2026.
Addressing the staffing deficit, MUST acknowledged that only 25 per cent of its pharmacy academic staff are employed on a full-time basis.
To bridge the gap, the university has engaged five part-time lecturers for the current academic year.
In a November 2 letter to the PSU, MUST Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, outlined the corrective measures taken by the university.
MUST appointed Dr Jonans Tusiimire, an associate professor and deputy dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, as acting head of the Department of Pharmacy for a three-month term effective October 19. A substantive head is expected to be elected by December 2026.
Addressing the staffing deficit, MUST acknowledged that only 25 per cent of its pharmacy academic staff are employed on a full-time basis.
To bridge the gap, the university has engaged five part-time lecturers for the current academic year.
The university also reported the promotion of three staff members. Dr Tusiimire was promoted to associate professor, while Dr Joshua Kiptoo and Dr Peter Nuwagira were promoted to lecturer.
MUST also secured clearance from the Ministry of Public Service on October 14 to recruit two senior lecturers. The positions have been advertised, with the recruitment process expected to be completed by December.
Regarding the curriculum, the university is phasing out the 2016 version, with the final cohort under that system expected to graduate in October 2027.
Subsequent students are transitioning to a revised five-year Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum, which has been submitted to NCHE for approval.
PSU secretary Dr Stephen Lutoti said the society had issued MUST a 30-day show-cause notice on September 10, which the university failed to address satisfactorily within the stipulated timeframe.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, MUST has invited the PSU Council and NCHE to inspect the campus and verify the newly implemented leadership and staffing structures, hoping to secure a reversal of the withdrawal of recognition.
MUST also secured clearance from the Ministry of Public Service on October 14 to recruit two senior lecturers. The positions have been advertised, with the recruitment process expected to be completed by December.
Regarding the curriculum, the university is phasing out the 2016 version, with the final cohort under that system expected to graduate in October 2027.
Subsequent students are transitioning to a revised five-year Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) curriculum, which has been submitted to NCHE for approval.
PSU secretary Dr Stephen Lutoti said the society had issued MUST a 30-day show-cause notice on September 10, which the university failed to address satisfactorily within the stipulated timeframe.
In a bid to resolve the impasse, MUST has invited the PSU Council and NCHE to inspect the campus and verify the newly implemented leadership and staffing structures, hoping to secure a reversal of the withdrawal of recognition.