Uganda’s top universities have been named among those higher education institutions that are still teaching expired courses despite not being accredited by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE).

Auditor General John Muwanga revealed in an annual audit report for the financial year that ended in June 2023, which was presented to Parliament on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, that five public universities in Uganda are teaching 222 expired courses.

The Auditor General identified the five universities as Makerere, Kyambogo, Makerere University Business School, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Gulu.

He stated that out of the 629 programmes, only 332 were accredited, 138 were sent to NCHE for accreditation, and 222 were not accredited.

“Analysis of programmes from 5 universities revealed that out of the 629 programmes, only 332 were accredited, 138 had been sent to NCHE for accreditation, and 222 were not accredited,” the report read in part.

He stated that out of the 222 programmes, Makerere University has 120, Kyambogo University has 63, Mbarara University of Science and Technology has 21, Makerere University Business School has 15, and Gulu University has three.

According to Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, it is a tradition that every January, Parliament receives the Auditor General’s report on the audited accounts of government for the previous financial year.

In accordance with Article 163(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995, as amended, it requires the Auditor General to submit to Parliament annually a report of the accounts audited by him or her under clause (3) of this article for the fiscal year immediately preceding.

This has come after last year in May, according to the statistics obtained from NCHE, indicating that at least 1,470 programmes have expired over the last five years.

The list of affected universities and other tertiary institutions included both public and private academic institutions.