Should Victoria University be allowed to teach more pharmacy students?

What the report says

A dispute over pharmacy training in Uganda has put Victoria University at odds with the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). The Observer reports that the issue centers on whether Victoria University should be allowed to enroll far more Bachelor of Pharmacy students than its approved intake, amid broader debate over how to balance regulation with government goals to expand science education.

According to the article, Victoria University’s academic registrar, Dr Bill Nkeeto, wrote to NCHE on August 11, 2025, seeking permission to raise the pharmacy intake from 50 students to 250. He said the university had invested in manufacturing machinery, simulation tools and laboratory equipment and could train more students while maintaining standards. The university later followed up with additional requests and asked NCHE to inspect its facilities.

The controversy escalated after PSU said there were concerns about pharmacy training and student admissions. In a November 2 letter, the society raised issues involving Victoria University and another institution, and noted that 364 students had reportedly been admitted for the August/September 2026 cohort, far above the approved limit. PSU then instructed the university to stop teaching, assessing and placing students beyond the approved intake, warning of possible de-recognition and blocked access to pre-registration exams.

Victoria University’s vice chancellor, Prof Lawrence Muganga, has rejected the move, arguing that it conflicts with Uganda’s push for science, technology and innovation. The case matters because it raises questions about quality assurance, access to professional education and who gets to decide how many pharmacists Uganda should train.