By Our Reporter
Lira University has presented 7 new academic programmes including two PhDs to National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) for accreditation.
The Dean Faculty of Management Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Judith Akello Abal presented the PhD programmes for NCHE to accredit. They are PhD-Public Administration & Management (By Research) and PhD -Business Administration & Management (By Research).
Dr. Andrew Ojulong, Senior Librarian, who led the University Team, said the university is committed to ensuring quality education and excellence, a practice that has encouraged students to pursue their academic goals with confidence.
This was during a meeting with NCHE Team held at Education Building on 2nd July 2026. NCHE team had visited the university to verify the existing facilities and resources to support the delivery of the new programmes.
Dr. Ojulong noted that Lira University Management is committed to ensuring that the academic programmes meet the highest standards of quality and excellence, adding, “we will continue to work closely, promote team spirit, to ensure that we maintain or improve these standards.”
He revealed that Lira University plans to transition their curricula to a Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) system to ensure programs produce highly skilled and practical graduates.
The Acting University Secretary, Mr. Atim Tom requested NCHE to accredit the new programmes, adding that it would be a demonstration to the hard work and dedication of our staff and students.
Mr. Atim noted that the University Management underscores adequate annual budgetary allocations to facilitate teaching and research activities at the university, adding, the university exists primarily because of students, a reason to mount several academic programmes capable of solving the community problems.
While Dean Faculty of Education, Dr. Amongi Elisabeth also presented the upcoming programmes for verification. They are Master of Science in Geography, Master of Education in Administration and Management, Master of Education in Psychology, Master of Education in Curriculum Studies, Master of Education in Foundation Studies.
Dr. Elizabeth Amongi said the Education Faculty has birthed three more faculties as per the new structure approved by the Ministry of Public Service for 2026/2027 comprising of faculties of Science, Arts and Humanities and Agriculture.
On the Faculty of Management Sciences growth and academic profile, Prof. Abal revealed that her faculty started with only 66 students under Gulu University Constituent College–Lira, pursuing 2 programmes: Bachelor-Business Administration & Public Administration.
And currently the faculty has 10 programmes; MBA, MAPAM, PGDFM, PGDPAM, BBA, BCOM, BSCAF, BHRM, BSCECON, BAECON with a total of 821 students pursuing different courses.
The NCHE Team Leader, Assoc. Prof. Atibuni Zami Dennis, said accreditation is mandatory for all universities in Uganda, as stipulated in the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (as amended).
Professor Atibuni Zami reminded the university that it is essential to always run only accredited programmes, and urged the university staff to implement the programmes in accordance with NCHE regulations.
He said the proposals for new programmes are evaluated against the National Minimum Standards and the university must fully align with the Competence-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework.
Among the university staff who attended the meeting were Chief Quality Assurance Officer, Dr. Peter Owiny, Academic Registrar, Mr. Angela Geoffrey, Acting University Bursar, CPA Anthony Elemu, , Acting Dean of Students, Mr. Opok James Bond and Deputy Director of Graduate Training and Research, Dr. Samson Udho