NCHE Insists Fairland University Lacks Requirements

Minister of Education and Sports Jessica Alupo

National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has backed its opposition to Fairland University operations, saying it lacks the requirements to be called a university.
This was contained in its written statement of defence filed before the High Court in Kampala on Wednesday.
The defence was in response to the suit filed by the Jinja-based University on January 28, protesting notices issued by the council, stating that the university was operating illegally and offered unaccredited courses.
Through its lawyers Lex Uganda Advocates and Solicitors, NCHE claims it is protecting the unsuspecting public, since Fairland university had been adamant to constitute the requisite university components despite earlier cautions to heed to.
Additionally, the council notes that Fairland University has continued to operate unlicensed study centres and run long distance courses.
The council also faults the university on grounds that despite knowledge that institutions with provisional licenses are not mandated to award masters and doctorate degrees, it has adamantly continued to do so.
NCHE also brands Fairland University as dishonest, saying it had exhibited sinister motives by denying the council access to the university premises
The woes between the NCHE and the Jinja-based University date from November 10, 2005, when the council issued the university with a provisional license.
Subsequently, the university was published in the Uganda Gazette of December 2, 2005, notifying the general public that it was a licensed institution.
The university started its operations and secured funding from financial institutions to set up both physical and technical infrastructure.
However, NCHE revoked its license, contrary to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001.
The university accuses the council of witch-hunt, saying this has curtailed efforts to establish itself as a fully-fledged university. It cites an incident when the Kenya Commission for Higher Education issued a notice in the print media in 2009, distancing itself from the institution.
But NCHE says the statutory two-year period a university enjoys following receipt of a provisional license, expired in July 2011.
The case file has been allocated to Justice Benjamin Kabiito though a hearing date is yet to be fixed.