NCHE okays KIU PhDs

Prof Peter Tibenderana (R), receives the findings of a report into an inquiry of PhDs from KIU from Prof Opuda Asubo, the executive director of National Council for High Education yesterday. Photo by Joseph Kiggundu.

What you need to know:

Investigations by the National Council for Higher Education reveal that the degrees had met the requirements.

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has okayed the Doctor of Philosophy (PhDs) that it had halted in order to verify the degrees.

The degrees were awarded to 42 PhD graduands from Kampala International University.

The then NCHE executive director, Prof A.B Kasozi, had questioned the degrees, saying the university lacks the capacity to train many students at PhD level.

However, his predecessor, Prof John Opuda Asibo, while handing over the findings of a report into the matter yesterday, said they had found that the university met the requirements, adding that there was no need to keep it waiting.

“The university is willing to cooperate and we hope such a thing never occurs again. NCHE Board Council has told me that the PhDs are recognised,” Prof Opuda said while handing over their findings to the KIU Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Tibendera Kazinga, at the university.

According to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, a PhD degree can take between three to five years.

Prof Kasozi said they had asked the university to stay the awards of the terminal degrees until NCHE has completed reviewing the awards.

However, KIU went ahead and awarded the degrees, prompting investigations.

Earlier, the Kenyan NCHE had also queried the degrees.