In a strategic move aimed to raise quality standards in Pharmacy profession,Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) has approved nine universities to train pharmacists, a significant expansion that could widen access to pharmacy education in Uganda’s health sector.
In a public notice dated April 16, 2026, the PSU, working alongside the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), unveiled the list of institutions accredited to offer the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.
The approved universities include long-established players such as Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, alongside Gulu University, Busitema University, Kampala International University Western Campus, Victoria University, Fins Medical University, Seeta University, and Jeph International University.
The accreditation is anchored in Section 22 of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act Cap 309, which mandates the PSU to regulate the training, registration, and professional conduct of pharmacists in Uganda.
Under this framework, only graduates from PSU-recognised institutions—or their approved equivalents—will qualify for professional registration.
PSU Secretary Dr. Lutoti Stephen, who signed the notice, issued a clear warning: recognition is conditional. Any institution that falls short of required standards risks immediate derecognition by the PSU Council.
The move nearly doubles the number of accredited pharmacy training institutions in recent years, reflecting growing demand for pharmaceutical professionals amid Uganda’s expanding healthcare system.
With more universities entering the space, the pressure is now firmly on both PSU and NCHE to enforce standards and prevent a dilution of training quality—especially in a country still grappling with counterfeit drugs and gaps in healthcare regulation.
All pharmacy students are now required to register through the PSU Pharmacy Student Portal and obtain a PSU Student Number. The annual registration deadline is March 31, and the directive applies equally to Ugandan students studying abroad.
According to the terms ,upon graduation, candidates must pass PSU-administered qualifying examinations:
* Pre-internship exams – January and June
* Post-internship exams – February and August
The PSU, established under Cap 309, remains the statutory body tasked with safeguarding standards in pharmacy practice.
With this latest expansion, the real test begins: whether these institutions can produce competent, ethical pharmacists—or whether the regulator will be forced to cut the list if standards slip.
For parents, students, and health sector stakeholders, the message is clear: only training from PSU-accredited universities guarantees a path to professional licensure.
In Uganda’s fragile drug supply chain—where poor regulation has previously cost lives—pharmacy education is not just an academic issue. It is a frontline public health priority.
Uganda’s pharmaceutical sector is a rapidly growing, privately-led market valued around US$352 million in 2025, yet it remains heavily import-dependent, with roughly 70% to 90% of medicines sourced from India and China. While local manufacturing focuses on antiretrovirals, antimalarials, and basic antibiotics, the sector is heavily taxed.
The market is growing, with 2023 over-the-counter (OTC) revenue around US$221 million, projected to grow at a 9.38% CAGR through 2028.
While about 26 licensed manufacturing firms exist, many function as packaging units or lack full production capabilities, with only 13 actively producing. high-quality antimalarials and HIV drugs.
