National Council of Higher Education-NCHE is pushing for the amendment of section 103 of the public Universities and Institutions act to compel public universities to apply for a charter. The proposal is aimed at standardizing the quality of education offered by all universities in the country.
The universities and other tertiary institutions act section 131 also provides that all universities operating before the commencement of the act (2003) shall apply for a charter from the national council of higher education. Phenny Birungi, the Deputy Executive director NCHE says that section 103 of the public Universities and Institutions act contradicts section 131 of the same act.
He says that there is need to close the loopholes in the charter to close loopholes that allows all universities with accreditation but lack a charter to have their academic documents recognized.
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Once the proposal by NCHE is accepted, all public universities will close for at least 6 months to allow the licensing process to take place. The chartering process takes about 3 years to accomplish.
According to information obtained by URN, during the licensing process universities pick up a letter of interim authority which allows them to mobilize funds, acquire infrastructure and organize academic and administrative human infrastructures in which period recruitment of students is not allowed.
After the letter of interim authority is verified and accepted by the council, the university then qualifies for a provisional license to admit students during which time they are monitored by the council for a period of at least three years before being granted a charter. Lawrence Madete, the spokesman Kyambogo University has welcomed the proposal by National Council of Higher Education saying that they are more than ready to the chartering process.
He however, tasked the council to harmonize on the period of licensing and allow public universities to do it during holidays. Currently only Uganda Martyrs' University Nkozi, Uganda Christian University Mukono, Nkumba University, Cavendish University and Kampala International University are chartered.
