KAMPALA – The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) of Uganda has announced sweeping plans to tighten the legal framework governing universities and other higher institutions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was confirmed by the NCHE Executive Director Prof. Mary Okwakol on Thursday, May 14th, 2026, during a high-level benchmarking engagement with the Somalia National Commission for Higher Education in Tinda, Kampala.
Speaking at the function, Prof. Mary revealed that the regulatory body currently is handcuffed by interim court orders, which allow non-compliant institutions to continue operating despite serious concerns.
She stated that the agency intends to expose a disturbing trend of rogue players exploiting court orders to remain open, a loophole it insists must be closed to safeguard students and the very essence of quality education.
“We cannot allow the pursuit of profit to override the pursuit of excellence. When institutions hide behind interim court orders to run unaccredited programs and operate illegal campuses, they are not just breaking the law, they are betraying the trust of every student and parent who believes in the power of quality education,” stated Prof. Okwakol.
Prof. Okwakol underscored that the crackdown is not about stifling private sector participation in education, but about ensuring that all institutions, public or private, adhere to minimum quality benchmarks.
She stressed that quality education must remain a non-negotiable priority, and that shortcuts or legal technicalities cannot be allowed to compromise the future of young people.
“We welcome private investment in higher education, but no institution, whether public or private, has the right to put students at risk. When we close a loophole, we are not shutting down dreams; we are protecting them. Quality must never be negotiable, and the future of our young people is too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of legal technicalities,” Prof. Okwakol added.
Meanwhile, the NCHE raised the alarm over a growing culture of defiance among some institutions, including unauthorized satellite campuses, unaccredited programmes, and expansion beyond approved student limits.
Officials warned that the practices harm academic standards and put students at risk, as they may enroll in courses not recognized by employers or other schools.
The NCHE further proposed new legal amendments to allow it to act quickly against violators, including a key change to limit automatic stays on regulatory action when an institution files a court challenge.
The Somali National Commission for Higher Education delegation hailed Uganda’s regulatory framework as a model for the region.
However, the delegation acknowledged that similar challenges of non-compliance and legal obstruction continue to plague higher education oversight across East Africa.
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