Written By | Staff Writer
The recommendations are contained in a committee report on a petition by affected graduates, presented to Parliament on October 1, 2026, for consideration and adoption.
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PARLIAMENT
Parliament’s Education and Sports Committee has recommended individual reviews, bridging courses and assessments for graduates of the Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute whose degrees awarded between 2011 and 2017 have not been recognised.
The recommendations are contained in a committee report on a petition by affected graduates, presented to Parliament on October 1, 2026, for consideration and adoption.
The committee proposed that affected graduates undergo individual assessments to establish whether they met the required entry qualifications and academic standards.
Those who satisfy the requirements or complete prescribed remedial modules should receive written confirmation of their qualifications and assistance in obtaining professional recognition.
The committee also proposed establishing a joint review committee to assess the cases and report to Parliament within 30 days of the report’s approval.
Committee calls for review of entry qualifications
The committee said the problem of disputed entry qualifications extends beyond Ernest Cook, with students at other universities having been admitted to degree programmes using certificates that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) now considers insufficient.
It recommended that similarly affected students receive support to resolve their cases.
The committee further proposed that NCHE issue guidelines defining equivalent entry qualifications across all academic disciplines within three months of Parliament’s approval of the report.
The proposed guidelines are intended to clarify admission requirements and address disputes arising from differences in the interpretation of acceptable entry qualifications.
Government says Ernest Cook dispute has been resolved
During the parliamentary proceedings, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang described the dispute over Ernest Cook graduates’ qualifications as resolved, while informing the House that NCHE had constituted a team to investigate admission requirements and programme accreditation.
“This matter, in my considered opinion, has been solved,” Ogwang told Parliament.
He said a court had ruled in favour of NCHE, although the ministry was continuing to assist the petitioner.
The Speaker called for an expedited investigation and directed that an action-taken report be presented once the process is completed.
The Speaker also cautioned that Parliament could not overturn a court judgment through a resolution, underscoring the need to address the petition within the applicable legal framework.
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang
Kyambogo students raise concerns over diploma qualifications
In a related matter, the Education and Sports Committee raised concerns over government-sponsored students at Kyambogo University who were admitted to a Diploma in Physical Education and Sports Management but graduated with a Diploma in Sport Management.
According to the committee, the students were not given prior written notice of the change or asked for their informed consent.
Committee Chairperson Emmanuel Ongiertho told Parliament that the students questioned the discrepancy during their studies but were assured that they would receive the qualification indicated in their admission letters.
The committee said administrative delays associated with the matter affected the students’ employment prospects and academic progression.
However, it noted that the evidence presented did not establish that the course was wholly unaccredited or conclusively demonstrate that sponsorship funds had been misappropriated.
The committee’s findings highlight concerns about transparency in university admissions, programme accreditation and the awarding of qualifications, as well as the potential consequences of administrative decisions for students’ careers.
The proposed measures seek to address the affected graduates’ individual cases while encouraging clearer admission standards and greater accountability in higher education institutions.
