The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has raised alarm over the poor state of research in Uganda’s universities, warning that many institutions risk being reduced to “glorified high schools” due to their overreliance on tuition fees and limited research output.
Speaking during the launch of the fourth Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) journal in Kampala, Prof. Mary Okwakol, Executive Director of NCHE, said the council’s latest annual survey paints a worrying picture of the country’s higher education sector.
“The survey indicators show that our research is not progressing as it should. Many institutions, the majority in fact, do not conduct meaningful research. Most universities are focused mainly on tuition, which is why people say they could be glorified high schools,” Prof Okwakol said.
She emphasised that NCHE assesses universities’ research capacity through indicators such as library resources, innovation output, and publication standards.
“Research is a very important aspect of the higher education mandate. Libraries are a cornerstone of any university, supporting both learning and innovation,” she noted.
Prof Okwakol commended CUUL for reviving academic publishing after a two-decade hiatus, describing the initiative as a platform to consolidate research from member institutions and promote innovation and commercialization.
“We are very happy with CUUL for launching the first journal after 21 years, which will collect publications from member institutions. Through this collaboration, we are not only publishing research but also identifying innovative ideas and advancing them,” she said.
Mr Andrew Ojulong, CUUL Executive Director, raised concerns over the low enrollment of students in Library and Information Science (LIS) courses. He cited public perception, limited awareness, and inadequate ICT infrastructure as key barriers.
“Ugandan publishers are very few; we have only a handful of journals. The launch of the Uganda University Journal is a timely addition that can boost academic publishing and encourage more local scholars to participate,” Mr Ojulong said.
The CUUL journal launch was attended by Vice Chancellors, librarians, and academics from Ugandan universities, who pledged to support the initiative and promote research and innovation in their institutions.