Senyonyi reassures public as UCU opens medical school

As Uganda Christian University (UCU) prepares to admit students to its newly opened medical school, Rev Can.Dr. John Senyonyi, the vice chancellor of the university has reassured members of the public that there will be no debacle regarding new programmes like what plagued the institution's nursing programme recently.

"The problems with the nursing programme are not a reflection on the quality of the program. UCU's nursing program is second to none, as it was written using senior officers in the country," he told the New Vision.

"The problem arose due to a change from institutional accreditation to program accreditation, which wasn't the case before. This was because NCHE rightly decided to include professional bodies in determining appropriate prerequisite subjects for entry and the vetting of programs. Hence four universities were caught up in the changeover."

Uganda Christian University recently signed a partnership with Mengo Hospital for the Medical School Project.

The memorandum of understanding was signed at the Church of Uganda Provincial Offices in presence of the The Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and the Chancellor of Uganda Christian University. Ntagali also serves as the Patron of Mengo Hospital.

Senyonyi explained why the church founded university, which was the first private university to be chattered by government in 2004, decided to start a medical school.

"It is common knowledge that the Anglican Church (Church of Uganda) pioneered both education and health services in Uganda. The first hospital in Uganda was Mengo Hospital. It is only right that UCU should train personnel to man the Church's institutions."

The pioneer students of the medical school will start their studies in May 2017, with not more than 50 students for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme and 20 for Bachelor of Dental Science programme.