About 11 public universities and over 38 private universities exist in Uganda. We bring you a list of the only accredited public and private universities in Uganda.
Potential and prospective applicants can enrol in their programs as long as they meet the requirements.
A crucial instrument of quality assurance is institutional accreditation in Uganda, which is the process of approving institutions to operate and offer higher education. Before receiving a license, institutions go through a process where they are evaluated at several points.
These are the only licensed public and private universities in Uganda
Accredited Public Universities in Uganda
Makerere University
One of the oldest and most esteemed universities in Africa, Makerere University was founded in 1922 as a modest technical school. The Ugandan National Council for Higher Education granted official recognition to Makerere University.
Makerere University currently has nine colleges and one school, serving roughly 36,000 undergraduate students and 4,000 postgraduate students programs.
The university announced the inauguration of two new campuses in January 2010. One is located in Fort Portal, which is about 310 kilometres (190 miles) west of Kampala by road, and the other is in Jinja, which is about 85 kilometres (53 miles) east of Kampala.
Kyambogo University
Kyambogo University (KYU) is a big university with an enrollment range: of 10,000-14,999 students. It’s an open-to-all-students Ugandan higher education institution that has been accredited by The National Council for Higher Education of Uganda.
The university’s programs range from Vocational Studies, Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, and Business to Engineering.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education granted accreditation to Mbarara University of Science and Technology, also referred to as MUST.
The university is situated along the Mbarara-Kabale Highway, approximately 269 kilometres (167 mi) southwest of Kampala.
MUST currently offer programs in Human medicine, nursing, medical laboratory sciences, pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and physiotherapy.
Kabale University
In 2005, the Uganda National Council for Higher Education granted KAB accreditation.
KAB’s main campus is situated on 52 hectares (130 acres) of property granted by the Kabale District Administration atop Kikungiri Hill in Kabale Municipality.
KAB’s main goal is to support the socio-economic development of Kigezi, Uganda, East Africa, Eastern Africa, and Africa by providing accessible training, doing accessible research, and providing decentralized services utilizing inclusive and participatory methodology.
The university offers undergraduate programs and graduate programs, Postgraduate degree programs, Doctoral Degrees(PhDs), and Short courses.
Lira University
One of Uganda’s publicly funded universities is Lira University. It began as a Constituent College of Gulu University in 2009 and received autonomy as a fully-fledged Public University thanks to an Act of Parliament passed under Statutory Instrument 2015 No.
It was started with the specific purpose of training students in the health sciences. The first university teaching hospital in Uganda is located there. The university is governed by a fully organized Council, Senate, Appointments Board, and other bodies.
It’s located in the district of Erute County comprising Ayere village, Barapwo parish, and Lira sub-county. It spans 621 acres (251.3 hectares) in total.
Soroti University
The third course at Soroti University received approval from the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE), which also gave the university permission, to begin with just 40 students.
It is regarded as one of the nation’s top public universities and institutes that grant degrees.
Some of the schools and Institutes at the university include the Institute of Gastronomy and Culinary Sciences, the School of Engineering and Technology, the School of Applied Sciences and Education, and the School of Business Sciences and Economics.
Accredited Private Universities in Uganda
Cavendish University
The autonomous Cavendish University of Uganda is authorized to grant recognized degrees and other educational achievements.
Plot 1469 Ggaba Road, directly across from the American Embassy, is where you can find the Cavendish University Uganda Main Campus. However, they have a very well-known law school that is situated in Acacia on Bukoto Street.
New students are admitted to the institution in three intakes per calendar year, which are in January, May, and August. And, they provide evening and weekend courses for master’s degrees (postgraduate studies) and a few bachelor’s degrees through the School of Working Adults Programmes. You can visit Cavendish’s website for more information.
Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi
Private University Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is attached to the Ugandan Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Conference of the Ugandan Catholic Bishops runs the university. The Uganda National Council for Higher Education granted it a license.
Three schools, six campuses, two institutes, nine departments, and seven faculties make up UMU. There are 4,632 students enrolled overall as of March 2022. These included almost 3,000 students participating in UMU’s distance learning programs and about 1,500 residential students.
A few of the faculties at this university include the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Business Administration and Management, the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Kampala International University
Uganda-based Kampala International University (KIU) is a private, non-profit university. It was founded in 2001, and in 2009 it became accredited.
The University runs a multi-campus system that includes three universities: one in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; two in Uganda (the Main campus in Kampala and the Western Campus in Ishaka-Bushenyi); and a third one being built in Nairobi, Kenya.
The University, which began as a standard school for issuing degrees, has developed into the top Private University in Uganda and is currently placed second in the nation out of 68 universities, according to the 2022 Webometric Ranking.
Health sciences, science and technology, engineering, business and management, law, humanities, and education are among the many programs that the university offers.
Ndejje University
Ndejje University (NDU), which was founded in 1992, is Uganda’s oldest and fastest-growing private university.
The “Ndejje University Foundation Consortium,” comprised of the six dioceses of the Church of Uganda (CoU) in the Buganda Region, owns it.
With around 10,000 students and 500 employees headquartered in Uganda, the university is accredited by the NCHE. The University collaborates with partners in an endeavour to address regional and worldwide issues to enhance societal and global circumstances.
The university offers a range of academic courses such as Science & Computing, Engineering, Business Administration & Management, Environment & Agriculture, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences among others.
The International University of East Africa IUEA
Uganda’s National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) granted a charter license status to the private, non-profit International University of East Africa (IUEA). It’s one of the newest universities in Uganda and East Africa. It’s located along the Kampala-Ggaba Road at Kansanga.
The highest license that a higher education institution can receive from the authorities is a charter. Additionally, the university’s charter can only be awarded by the head of state if there is proof that it satisfies the criteria for academic quality established by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education and the Ministry of Education.
As of July 2014, the university has faculties that include the Faculty of Business and Management, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Law.
Victoria University Kampala
UNCHE) approved Victoria University Uganda, a private university in Uganda.
The university provides quick professional, diploma, undergrad, and postgrad education.
The university’s main campus is located at Victoria Towers, along Jinja Road.
Some of their faculties include the Faculty of Business and Management, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, and Petroleum and Energy Studies.
Other accredited Private Universities in the country include ISBAT University Kampala, Uganda Christian University Mukono, Nkumba University, Uganda Pentecostal University,
Conclusion
There are about 43 universities in Uganda, around 13 of which are public universities supported by the government and about 38 of which are private universities and other institutions that grant postsecondary degrees.
Only a small number of private universities are accredited and only a few of them such as IUEA have a charter license.
