According to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), a total of 1,470 programmes have expired in the past five years.
These programmes encompass both graduate and undergraduate courses, with varying expiration periods depending on the academic institutions.
During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, the State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, addressed the issue of accreditation validity and stated that when a programme’s accreditation expires, it requires reassessment to ensure that the essential criteria for accreditation are still in place.
Muyingo urged institutions with programmes in need of reassessment to submit them promptly, with a deadline of November 30, 2023.
The State Minister assured the public that graduates from programmes previously accredited in accordance with NCHE standards and regulations still hold valid qualifications.
Responding to concerns, the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, emphasized that all courses remain valid and urged calm among the public.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa attributed the current “expired” course controversy to the use of inappropriate terminology and directed the NCHE to reclassify these courses as “under review” instead.
“We often employ strong words without realizing their impact. Why use the term ‘expired’?” stated the Deputy Speaker.
Tayebwa asked the NCHE to rectify the situation by marking the courses as “under review” rather than using the term “expired.”
He further highlighted the potential issues arising from considering a bachelor’s degree curriculum as expired after five years, particularly in fields like medicine where the programme duration matches the expiration timeline.