Victoria University VC Muganga calls on NCHE to restore Uganda’s reputation in the education sector

Victoria University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Lawrence Muganga has appealed to the National Council for Higher Education(NCHE) to initiate a substantial campaign to restore Uganda’s reputation in the education sector.

His call comes days after Nigeria suspended the accreditation of degrees from Benin and Togo, extending the same suspension to more countries, including Kenya and Uganda.

According to Muganga, similar to the alleged “expired courses” saga, this issue will also pass.

However, he said that it is crucial to note that each time such stories emerge, they impact Uganda’s education system and country in various ways.

Muganga called for a comprehensive initiative that underscores Uganda’s education system as superior to that of most countries in Africa.

“Uganda is not a destination where one would acquire a fake degree. Historically, our education system has consistently produced remarkable individuals. While we acknowledge some flaws, our system remains at the forefront, shaping incredible men and women,” he noted.

The Vice Chancellor asserts that the effectiveness of Uganda’s education system is evident in the considerable number of Nigerian students opting to study here.

He highlighted that, “Claims from Nigeria regarding the inadequacy of our system do not align with this reality. It’s crucial to avoid generalizing. Every education system has its flaws, and Uganda is no exception,”

Nevertheless, Muganga boasted that Uganda persists in standing out as superior in providing quality education, compared to most African countries.

Muganga who was appearing on NTV further revealed challenges students in Nigeria are encountering, in completing their degrees within the expected timeframe.

Consequently, he noted that there has been an increase in students applying to universities in various countries, with a notable influx to Uganda.

“However, this issue isn’t connected to Uganda; it’s an internal problem within Nigeria’s education system. Efforts to dissuade students from selecting Uganda stem from challenges within Nigeria’s educational landscape,”

It should be noted that the new directive from Nigeria is an effort to stop fraudulent qualifications from foreign degree mills, following an exposé by the Daily Nigerian newspaper.

In an undercover investigation, the newspaper’s reporter Umar Audu revealed how he obtained a degree for a four-year program from a Benin university in under two months.

Nigeria has launched a formal investigation into the ministries and agencies responsible for accrediting academic qualifications obtained abroad.