The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has withdrawn its recognition of the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) program at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), with immediate effect.
The decision is contained in a public notice (Ref: 389/PSU/2026) dated 19 October 2026 and signed by PSU Secretary Dr. Lutoti Stephen. It was resolved at the PSU Council’s 61st Emergency Meeting, held at Pharmacy House in Kyambogo.
At its 127th Ordinary Council Meeting on 4 September 2026, the Council raised grave concern about MUST’s Department of Pharmacy. According to the notice, the department was headed in an acting capacity by a non-pharmacist, a nurse by profession, and had an inadequate number of staff. The Council also noted that the university had issued no internal or external advert to substantively fill the Head of Department position.
On 10 September 2026, the Council issued a Show Cause Notice (Ref: 300/PSU/2026) giving MUST 30 days to explain why recognition should not be withdrawn and students transferred. The PSU says MUST failed to respond within that period.
Under the de-recognition:
- PSU will not recognize any qualification obtained where courses were taught or assessed during the de-recognition period.
- PSU has suspended issuance of Pharmacy Student Numbers, recognition of internship placements, and eligibility to sit the pre-internship and pre-registration qualifying examinations for any new MUST graduates, until compliance is restored.
Current BPharm students at MUST are advised either to seek transfer to other PSU Council-recognized universities or to await MUST’s compliance.
The PSU said that if MUST complies with the inspection findings sent to the Vice Chancellor and addresses the issues raised in the Show Cause Notice, a follow-up inspection will be conducted to assess compliance, after which the Council will advise on further action.
The Council said it remains committed to its statutory mandate under Section 22(2) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, Cap 309, to safeguard pharmacy training standards.
The notice was copied to the Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the Commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Vice Chancellor of MUST, the President of the Mbarara University Pharmacy Students Association, and all PSU members.
