MPs recommend review of disputed Ernest Cook University degrees

What the report says

Uganda’s Parliament is moving to review the status of graduates whose degrees from Ernest Cook University were not recognised by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). The Committee on Education and Sports made the recommendation after examining a petition from Dr Henry Garvin Mukalazi and other affected graduates, who told lawmakers that students were admitted to some health-related degree programmes before the courses had the required accreditation.

According to the committee report presented in plenary on Thursday, 1 October 2026, one student had been admitted to the Bachelor of Diagnostic Ultrasound programme in 2011, before that programme was accredited in December 2013. The committee also criticised NCHE for what it described as weak oversight of the university. It noted that NCHE had been in contact with Ernest Cook University and had advised affiliation with Gulu University, which the committee said suggested the regulator was aware of student enrolment in the course.

The report further said NCHE introduced harmonised minimum admission requirements for health-related degrees in 2017, years after the relevant regulations were already in force. The committee asked the Ministry of Education and Sports to set up a joint review panel involving NCHE, Ernest Cook University and the Allied Health Professionals Council.

That panel would assess each graduate’s records individually and decide whether the person needs bridging courses, remedial training or another lawful remedy. The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth, said Parliament could not overturn an existing court decision, but directed the minister to speed up the review and return with updates. The issue matters because it affects graduate recognition, professional standards and the handling of disputed higher-education programmes in Uganda.