By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – In a shocking move, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has announced that it will not recognize the academic credentials of at least 2,025 students who have been studying at Busoga University, despite the institution’s license being revoked seven years ago.
The university’s license was revoked in 2016 due to severe irregularities.
These included:
The institution’s lack of qualified staff, compromising the quality of education offered to students. The university failed to meet the required standards for faculty qualifications.
Teaching uncredited courses, rendering them invalid. Busoga University offered programs that were not accredited by the NCHE, meaning students who completed these courses would not receive recognized qualifications.
Awarding fake degrees to over 1,000 students, mainly of South Sudanese descent, who graduated within an unusually short period of two months.
This raised serious concerns about the institution’s academic integrity and standards.
Admitting students without ensuring they met the requisite admission criteria, compromising academic standards.
Operating with illegal affiliations, failing to comply with regulatory requirements.
Failing to maintain up-to-date student records, making tracking student progress and verifying academic achievements difficult.
Failing to conduct progressive student assessments, neglecting crucial academic evaluation.
Despite the license revocation, Daily Monitor has learned that the university has continued to operate, conducting lectures for at least 366 students, while 1,659 students have their graduation pending.
A source at the institution claimed, “The university was not closed, but only had its license revoked, which does not mean not teaching students.”
However, NCHE spokesperson Saul Waigolo emphasized that the 2,025 students’ degrees will be invalidated.
“We only recognize students who graduated at the last university’s graduation in 2016, and not the rest of the students who have been attending lectures since the license was revoked.”
Waigolo warned that Busoga University faces several risks, including awarding illegal qualifications to students, teaching unaccredited academic programs, and obtaining money from unsuspecting members of the public under false pretenses.
The NCHE has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate the alleged illegal operation of the university.
Background
In 2018, President Museveni directed the Ministry of Education to take over Busoga University as a public institution.
A committee, chaired by State Minister for Higher Education Dr. Chrysostom Muyingo, was appointed to spearhead the takeover.
Recently, the Ministry of Education appointed a six-member taskforce committee to kick-start the reopening process.
However, sources indicate that the university will reopen in the 2025/2026 academic year.