Why do we have over 1000 Courses Scrapped by Makerere in 2025?
In the past 5 years, Uganda’s higher education system has been grappling with the credibility of the courses offered. In 2021, or was discovered that outdated and unaccredited university programs continue to hinder the prospects of graduates. By 2023, this issue became a national concern when reports revealed that several foreign universities were rejecting degrees from Ugandan students. These institutions cited the expiration and irrelevance of some academic programs, leaving many students unable to pursue further studies abroad.
In 2023, we wrote a full list of expired courses in Uganda here. You can check and find out if your course is listed.
This predicament has particularly tarnished the reputation of Makerere University, an institution with a century-long history. For an institution of its caliber, offering unaccredited or expired programs has been seen as a disservice to the nation. This situation has caused widespread anxiety among students, alumni, and academic institutions alike. More than a year later, the problem persists, with Ugandan degrees still facing skepticism internationally. A local newspaper recently announced that in 2025, there were over 1000 Courses Scrapped by Makerere.
Why do foreign universities reject Ugandan degrees?
One of the most publicized examples is that of a graduate who completed a Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography at Makerere University. The graduate, wishing to remain anonymous, attempted to apply for a postgraduate program at the University of Bristol in November 2023. However, her application was stalled due to a lack of evidence proving her degree’s accreditation.
The University of Bristol directed her to the website of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to verify the program. However, upon reviewing the list of accredited programs on the NCHE website, the Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography was conspicuously absent. According to the NCHE, programs not reviewed or updated in time are removed from the accredited list.
Efforts to resolve this issue saw the graduate visiting Makerere University’s Academic Registrar’s Office, where she was referred to the Deputy Academic Registrar. She was issued a letter confirming the program’s accreditation, which she sent to the University of Bristol. However, the response from Bristol was disheartening:
“In order to consider your application further, we require official confirmation of the accreditation of your degree and institution during your studies. Please provide evidence of NCHE Uganda accreditation of your Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography from Makerere University for the years 2018 to 2023.”
Although Makerere University’s letter confirmed that the program had been accredited in 2011, it failed to acknowledge that its accreditation had expired in 2016—a year before the graduate enrolled. This gap in accreditation remains unresolved, and the graduate awaits feedback from the NCHE after submitting additional documentation on December 18, 2023.
Professor Buyinza Confirms that indeed there are some courses scrapped by Makerere University
Professor Mukadasi Buyinza, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Makerere University talked to the media about the 1000 courses Scrapped by Makerere. He clarified that programs under review are temporarily removed from the NCHE’s website. He assured that the Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiography is undergoing review and will be resubmitted for accreditation once the process is complete.
He acknowledged that the review process for science programs is lengthy due to the need for laboratory verification, quality assurance checks, and consultations with professional bodies. He also highlighted that delays may occur depending on how quickly the NCHE dispatches verification teams. Professor Buyinza urged the public to exercise patience, promising that the university is committed to assisting graduates whose applications may require additional documentation. Does that mean that the 1000 Courses Scrapped by Makerere are temporarily unavailable? We are yet to find out!
How has the issue of Courses Scrapped by Makerere is affected students in 2025?
Thousands of students planning to pursue studies at universities in Uganda and abroad have been left stranded after the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) scrapped over 1,000 programmes from its list.
This means the universities cannot admit students for the courses nor can students seeking studies abroad have their courses verified for admission.
Did NCHE solve the issue of expires courses and what happened to them?
This case of 1000 courses Scrapped by Makerere is not isolated. As of 2020, approximately 1,400 academic programs across Uganda had expired due to universities failing to seek re-accreditation. The NCHE’s website currently lists only 3,050 accredited programs, a stark reduction from previous years. Of the removed programs, about 660 have since completed the review process and await approval.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe on the 1000 Courses Scrapped by Makerere
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, confirmed that delays in submitting programs for review often stem from departmental inefficiencies. Some programs are not advertised because they are pending re-accreditation, which further complicates the situation for prospective students and graduates.
What is NCHE doing about the Courses Scrapped by Makerere?
The NCHE has acknowledged the challenges posed by expired programs and has implemented measures to address the issue. For instance, the council is creating an archive of permanently removed programs to assist graduates in verifying their accreditation status during their study period. They have also urged universities to begin reviewing programs at least a year before their accreditation expires.
Institutions that start teaching unaccredited programs risk their awards being unrecognized by the NCHE, which is now stricter about enforcing compliance. Furthermore, students are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their desired programs before enrollment.
Have we resurrected the issue of expired courses?
The crisis surrounding expired programs has cast a shadow over Uganda’s higher education system. It is imperative that universities prioritize timely reviews and updates to their curricula to align with global standards. Meanwhile, students and graduates must remain vigilant, ensuring they choose accredited programs that will secure their future opportunities.
What does the issue of having over 1000 Courses Scrapped by Makerere mean?
This situation underscores the urgent need for collaboration between universities, the NCHE, and other stakeholders to restore the credibility of Uganda’s higher education system. Only then can the nation’s institutions regain the trust of the global academic community.
Source: NTV UGANDA
