Victoria University Joins National Pharmacy Training Programme After PSU Accreditation

By Gad Masereka

Victoria University is among nine institutions in Uganda that have received official accreditation to offer a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, following a joint announcement by the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda and the National Council for Higher Education.

The accreditation, published in a public notice dated April 16, 2026, marks a milestone for the university’s expanding health sciences programme and places it alongside some of the country’s most established academic institutions.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, which operates under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act Cap 309, released the list of approved universities following a compliance review aimed at strengthening standards in pharmacy education. In addition to Victoria University, the accredited institutions are Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kampala International University Western Campus, Gulu University, Busitema University, Fins Medical University, Seeta University and Jeph International University.

PSU Secretary Dr. Lutoti Stephen said the accreditation process was designed to ensure that training institutions meet the professional requirements for producing competent pharmacists. His office made clear that the approval comes with ongoing obligations, warning that failure to maintain required standards could result in recognition being withdrawn.

“Universities must adhere to the standards, otherwise the PSU Council may withdraw their recognition,” the PSU notice stated, underscoring the regulatory framework within which all approved institutions must operate.

For students enrolled in pharmacy programmes at these universities, the accreditation carries immediate practical implications. All pharmacy students are now required to register on the PSU Pharmacy Student Portal and obtain a unique student registration number, with an annual deadline of March 31. The requirement extends to Ugandan students pursuing pharmacy training at institutions outside the country, who must equally register through the same system.

Upon completing their training, graduates will be required to sit qualifying examinations administered by the PSU Council. Pre-internship examinations are scheduled for January and June each year, while post-internship assessments take place in February and August. Only graduates from accredited institutions will be eligible to sit these examinations and subsequently apply for professional registration as licensed pharmacists in Uganda.

The announcement comes at a time when Uganda is under increasing pressure to address shortfalls in its healthcare workforce, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. Access to qualified pharmacists remains uneven across the country, with urban centres holding the bulk of registered professionals while rural health facilities continue to face significant gaps.

For Victoria University, the accreditation represents a meaningful addition to its academic portfolio. The institution, which has positioned itself as a technology and innovation-driven university, has steadily expanded into health sciences in recent years. Being listed alongside Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology on a national accreditation register for pharmacy training is a marker of the institution’s growing credibility in professional education.

University management expressed confidence that the accreditation aligns with its broader commitment to producing graduates who are not only academically prepared but professionally ready for immediate deployment in Uganda’s workforce. The pharmacy programme, once fully operational under the new guidelines, is expected to contribute directly to efforts at expanding the pool of qualified health professionals available to both public and private health systems across the country.