Pharmaceutical Society withdraws recognition of MUST pharmacy degree
According to PSU, the university had not provided sufficient internal or external support to substantively fill the position of head of department.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has withdrawn recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), citing concerns over staffing, leadership and the university’s failure to respond to regulatory queries.
In a public notice dated October 19, 2026, PSU said the withdrawal takes immediate effect, raising uncertainty for current pharmacy students and potentially affecting the professional registration prospects of future graduates.
The society said its 127th Ordinary Council Meeting, held on September 4, noted with concern that MUST’s Department of Pharmacy was operating under what it described as an acting leadership arrangement headed by a non-pharmacist, alongside inadequate staffing levels.
According to PSU, the university had not provided sufficient internal or external support to substantively fill the position of head of department.
The decision followed a show-cause notice dated September 10, 2026, in which PSU gave MUST 30 days to explain why recognition of its Bachelor of Pharmacy programme should not be withdrawn and students transferred elsewhere.
However, PSU said MUST failed to respond within the stipulated period, prompting the council to withdraw recognition after deliberations at its 61st Emergency Council Meeting at Pharmacy House in Kyambogo.
Implications for students
The decision carries significant implications for students enrolled in the programme.
PSU said it would not recognise qualifications obtained from courses taught or assessed during the period of de-recognition.
It also announced the suspension of the issuance of PSU Pharmacy Student Numbers, recognition of internship placements and eligibility of new MUST graduates to sit the society’s pre-internship and pre-registration qualifying examinations.
These restrictions will remain in force until MUST restores compliance with the society’s requirements.
Current students have been advised to seek transfers to other universities recognised by PSU or await the university’s compliance with the outstanding requirements.
The announcement places the university’s pharmacy training programme under pressure to address the concerns raised by the professional body, particularly regarding departmental leadership and staffing.
PSU demands compliance
The Pharmaceutical Society said it remains committed to its statutory mandate under Section 22(2) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, Cap. 309, which it cited as the legal basis for safeguarding pharmacy training standards.
The society indicated that a follow-up inspection would be conducted if MUST complies with the findings of an earlier inspection and addresses the issues outlined in the show-cause notice.
The notice was copied to the executive director of the National Council for Higher Education, the commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, MUST’s vice-chancellor and the university’s Pharmacy Students Association.
The development puts the spotlight on the importance of adequate staffing, qualified academic leadership and regulatory compliance in pharmacy education, where training standards are central to the preparation of professionals responsible for the safe and effective use of medicines.
