Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) has appointed a caretaker Head of the Department of Pharmacy as part of efforts to address regulatory concerns that led to the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) withdrawing recognition of its Bachelor of Pharmacy programme.
The university’s Secretary, Vincent Kansiime Kwatampora, disclosed this while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central) on November 9, 2026.
Kwatampora said Jonan Asimire had been appointed to replace a non-pharmacist nurse whose interim appointment had raised concerns from the professional regulatory body.
The dispute began on September 10, 2026, when the PSU issued MUST a 30-day Show Cause Notice citing academic and regulatory shortcomings, including failure to advertise the position of Head of the Department of Pharmacy following the resignation of former head, Prof. Patrick Ogwang.
The council also raised concerns over a shortage of qualified pharmacy instructors. After the university failed to meet the compliance deadline, the PSU revoked recognition of the programme.
The decision resulted in a suspension of the issuance of pharmacy student numbers, internship placements and access to mandatory pre-internship and pre-registration qualifying examinations for MUST graduates.
Kwatampora told MPs that the university was taking steps to address the concerns, including recruiting two pharmacists and initiating further recruitment processes.
He added that an upcoming meeting with the PSU was expected to provide an opportunity to resolve the outstanding issues and restore recognition of the programme.
However, the committee raised concerns about the university’s wider staffing challenges and the potential impact on students.
Committee Chairperson Patrick Oshabe questioned the university’s decision to proceed with interim arrangements despite the professional body’s directives, warning that such actions could put students’ academic and professional prospects at risk.
Lawmakers also questioned reports indicating that MUST had only 10 professors and 17 associate professors, raising concerns about the institution’s capacity to supervise postgraduate research.
MP Nsamba challenged the university to ensure that its postgraduate qualifications meet the required academic standards, particularly in producing competent PhD graduates.
The concerns are reflected in the Auditor General’s report for the period ending December 2025, which established that the university had a staffing level of only 30 per cent.
The report recommended increased wage appropriation to enable MUST to recruit staff and fill critical vacancies necessary for the operation of a specialised medical teaching institution.
