NCHE nullifies Kayiwa International University’s graduation, says all degrees conferred are illegal

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has nullified the recent graduation held by Kayiwa International University saying all documents awarded by the institution are illegal and not fit to be used anywhere in the employment sector.

According to NCHE, Kayiwa’s University was closed three years ago in 2019 after failing to meet the minimum requirements need to operate a degree awarding institution at the calibre of a University.

The institution’s closure followed an NCHE inspection led by the field team officer Mr Cyrus Sebugenyi who said among the requirements that led to it’s license being revoked were lack of qualified personnel to teach the different courses, failure to pay taxes, lack of infrastructure and not having a university council among other reasons.

Mr Semugenyi explained that the institution was given a letter of accreditation in 2015 promising to meet all the necessary requirements of the NCHE, something they failed to do which prompted the regulatory body to withdraw it’s license in 2019.

He adds that before their closure, they held a number of meetings to streamline their operations but all the deliberations fell on deaf ears as no change from the university was made.

However, to their dismay, the Mengo-based University went ahead and held it’s graduation on Friday June 10, which NCHE said was illegal and made it publicly known that all those awarded degrees from the institution should know that their documents are null and void and won’t be accepted anywhere in Uganda.

Drama ensued when NCHE wanted to close the institution amidst its graduation ceremony but they were stopped by Rubaga RCC Anderson Burora. They however said the concerned authorities will be dragged to court and the DPP will prosecute them.

Background

In 2020, Dr Emurwon Olupot, an official from NCHE, said the online university, based at Pastor Simeon Kayiwa’s Namirembe Christian Church, is illegal and its academic qualifications cannot be recognised.

Pastor Kayiwa, however, termed the Council’s allegation as “ridiculous’saying the university does not need to be accredited in Uganda because it already has a charter and an accreditation in USA.

NCHE has, on various occasions, invited Pastor Kayiwa to their office and explained to him the need to register and the processes to follow, “Up to now he has not complied. This university is operating illegally in Uganda. If you get a certificate from there, it will not be recognised for higher education or employment or for contesting for political office,” Dr Olupot said then.

Kayiwa international university is one of the universities in Uganda that offer theological studies and other disciplines at various levels including Certificates, Diplomas & Degrees. The University is headed by Prof Simeone Kayiwa who is the lead pastor at Namirembe Christian Fellowship church in Kampala.