Should Victoria University be allowed to teach more pharmacy students?

A bitter dispute over pharmacy education in Uganda has exposed a fundamental tension between regulatory oversight and the government’s push to expand science education.

Social media is awash with heated debates on Victoria University, which finds itself locked in a battle with the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) over whether it should be permitted to teach more pharmacy students than its approved intake allows, and whether the careers of 364 aspiring pharmacists will be sacrificed in the process.

According to official records, the controversy traces back to August 11, 2025, when Dr Bill Nkeeto, the academic registrar of Victoria University, wrote to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) requesting approval to increase enrollment capacity for selected health science programs.

Specifically, he sought to expand the Bachelor of Pharmacy program from an approved intake of 50 students to 250 students. Dr Nkeeto’s request was grounded in the university’s substantial investment in infrastructure.

He argued that the institution had stocked enough industrial manufacturing machinery, clinical simulation tools and analytical laboratory equipment to accommodate the proposed number of students.

“The university has positioned itself to admit and effectively train a higher number of students in the above programs while maintaining the highest academic and professional standards,” he stated in his letter.

The university did not rest on its initial request. In April this year, Dr Nkeeto followed up with a request to NCHE to visit and inspect the university’s facilities. On September 4, he sent yet another reminder requesting the increase in intake.

A meeting scheduled for October 26, organized by NCHE with Victoria University and PSU, was later postponed, a move that set off a chain of events with serious consequences for hundreds of students.

**PSU’S INTERVENTION **

On November 2, PSU moved to address what it described as an urgent matter with NCHE. Dr Stephen Lutoti, the PSU secretary, penned a letter expressing concerns about emerging issues in bachelor of Pharmacy training.

“Since the postponement, there have been emerging matters in regard to Bachelor of Pharmacy training that would benefit from joint guidance by NCHE and PSU,” the letter read in part.

His concerns were twofold: matters relating to the Bachelor of Pharmacy at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) regarding recognition and those relating to Victoria University regarding admission numbers.

The PSU noted that while the approved intake at Victoria University was 50 students per year, the university had indicated that 364 students were admitted for the August/September 2026 cohort.

Dr Lutoti indicated that PSU was ready to conduct joint inspections of the said universities the following week. But that same day, he took a more drastic step.

He directed Prof Lawrence Muganga, the Victoria University vice chancellor, to halt the teaching, assessment, and clinical placement of every Bachelor of Pharmacy student beyond the approved intake of 50.

“Fail to comply, and the program will be de-recognized without further notice, its graduates barred from the pre-registration examinations that stand between a degree and a license,” he ordered.

As a result, Prof Muganga protests Dr Lutoti’s orders. He argues that restricting pharmacy students contradicts the government’s emphasis on science, technology, and innovation as drivers of economic transformation.

He further warns that Uganda risks limiting opportunities for young people at a time when it should be expanding its scientific workforce.

“Government is telling every young Ugandan to study science. The President says it. The ministry says it. The ATMS agenda says it, with science, technology and innovation placed at the center as the engine that drives agriculture, tourism and minerals,” Prof Muganga said. “

And yet, at the very same time, PSU is working to cap how many pharmacists we are allowed to train. One hand is opening the door and the other is pushing it shut.”

His argument touches on a policy contradiction. On one hand, government has made expanding science education a national priority. On the other, regulatory bodies like PSU are enforcing caps on enrollment that may be inconsistent with that goal.

The question is whether such caps are justified by legitimate concerns about educational quality or whether they serve more protectionist interests.

**THE QUALITY QUESTION **

At the heart of the dispute is a fundamental question: should Victoria University be granted leeway to teach many more students as long as it meets key criteria such as facilities and lecturers?

Victoria University maintains that it has invested heavily in the infrastructure needed to train pharmacy students properly. The university points to its industrial manufacturing machinery, clinical simulation tools, and analytical laboratory equipment as evidence that it can accommodate the proposed number of students without compromising quality.

However, the PSU’s concerns cannot be dismissed lightly. Pharmacy is a profession where quality of training directly affects public safety. Pharmacists dispense medications that can heal or harm; they must be properly educated and rigorously trained

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