NCHE recommends chartering Muteesa I Royal University
The National Council for Higher Education (NHCE) has recommended the ministry of Education and Sports grants a charter to Buganda kingdom-owned Muteesa I Royal University.
A statement issued by NHCE executive director Prof Mary Okwokol indicates that the council has considered the university’s application and established that it had finally fulfilled the institutional preconditions for chartering.
A statement issued by NHCE executive director Prof Mary Okwokol indicates that the council has considered the university’s application and established that it had finally fulfilled the institutional preconditions for chartering.
“As you may be aware, the law provides for requisite procedures governing the grant of a charter which involves the submission of the charter to the minister responsible for education who then presents it to the president for final approval, before gazettement of the same,” the statement reads in part.
A Charter is a final authorization issued to an institution of higher learning, granting it full permission to operate after it meets all requirements and standards of academic excellence set by the government. Once granted, the charter elevates the institution to a level that makes it comparable to public universities as per the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001.
Meanwhile, as it awaits the final approval of the charter, NHCE has instructed Muteesa to pay the statutory license fees of Shs 15 million to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
In June last year, Muteesa was compelled to close its auxiliary study centres in Bugerere, Kayunga district, and Buwekula in Mubende district, after the NCHE instructed them to stop wasting its limited capacities and resources towards a wider scope they could not effectively manage.
Besides their main campus at Kirumba, in Masaka city, the university was allowed to operate one study centre at Kakeeka-Mengo in Kampala. The vice chancellor Prof Vincent Kakembo says that NCHE's recommendation has come out of their tireless joint efforts to fulfil the requirements, indicating that he is optimistic that ministry will approve their application.
He observes that the charter is a great milestone in the academic development and growth of the university. Kakembo adds that they will now focus on scientific research and innovativeness that can enable their students to favorably compete at international standards.
Once the charter is approved by the ministry of Education, Muteesa I Royal University will become the 21st private university to be fully chartered by the government.
Posted by Buganda Kingdom