KAPATU Pushes Back Against NCHE Claims in Escalating University Accreditation Dispute

A growing dispute between Karamoja Peace and Technology University (KAPATU) Limited and Uganda’s higher education regulator has taken a sharp turn, with the university’s promoters issuing a strongly worded public response accusing officials of spreading “false allegations” and undermining efforts to establish the region’s first university.

The statement, released Monday in Kampala, directly challenges remarks made by Prof. Mary J. N. Okwakol, Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), during her appearance before the Sectoral Committee on Education of the Parliament of Uganda on April 9, 2026.

At the center of the disagreement is whether KAPATU has met the legal and institutional requirements necessary to obtain a provisional license and begin operations.

Background to the Dispute

During her presentation to Parliament, Prof. Okwakol reportedly stated that “the KAPATU Project had stalled after failing to meet accreditation guidelines,” citing concerns about governance structures, legal compliance, and the institution’s alleged resistance to registering as a private university.

She further indicated that the project, described as a Catholic Church-founded initiative, was seeking public university status despite not meeting requirements.

However, KAPATU’s promoters have categorically rejected these claims, calling them misleading and damaging.

“False Allegations” and Institutional Pushback

The promoters state unequivocally:

“The promoters of KAPATU take very strong exception to these false allegations that are deliberately designed to mislead H.E. the President of Uganda, Parliament, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and all stakeholders.”

The statement goes further, alleging a coordinated effort within key government institutions to derail the university’s establishment:

“The false allegations by the ED NCHE fit in a deliberately calculated pattern of distortion by some actors within NCHE, MoES, and Attorney General’s Chambers… aimed at failing all efforts towards the realisation of the first ever university in Karamoja Region.”

Compliance with Legal Requirements

KAPATU insists that it has complied fully with the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, particularly the conditions set out in the Letter of Interim Authority issued on April 19, 2024.

These conditions included:

• Mobilising funds
• Acquiring infrastructure and academic facilities
• Organising academic and administrative staff
• Developing the institution toward full operational readiness

The promoters assert:

“The Promoters of KAPATU have fully complied with all the requirements in the Letter of Interim Authority as outlined above.”

They cite major financial and infrastructure investments, including UGX 30 billion from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and international commitments worth EUR 300 million (approximately UGX 1.2 trillion).

Facilities reportedly include lecture halls, staff accommodation, a functional library, security systems, internet connectivity, water and electricity, and more than 150 acres of land for expansion.

“This by far exceeds the minimum requirements… for establishment of a private university,” the promoters argue, adding that “no university in Uganda has ever started with these resources.”

Licensing Process and Allegations of Bias

KAPATU confirms that it applied for a provisional license on October 27, 2025, and underwent verification by NCHE.

“A team sent by NCHE has verified that all requirements for issuance of the licence were in place and the findings… were presented to KAPATU Promoters.”

The promoters accuse Prof. Okwakol of prejudging the application:

“For the ED NCHE to state that KAPATU has failed to comply before the NCHE Council sits to consider the application, is a deliberate effort to bias members of the Council against KAPATU’s application.”

Clarifying Institutional Status

The promoters reject claims that KAPATU refused to register as a private institution.

“It is therefore disingenuous… to state before Parliament… that KAPATU has refused to become a private institution.”

Role of the Catholic Church

KAPATU is backed by the Catholic Dioceses of Kotido and Moroto, along with the Catholic Lawyers Society International.

The promoters argue that Ugandan law permits such participation:

“Section 27(m)… permits the Catholic Church to participate in founding a university. It is therefore wrong… to suggest that the Catholic Church is prohibited by law from participating as a foundation body.”

They also cite Canon 807:

“The Church has a right to establish and govern a university for the purpose of deepening culture and fuller development of the human person…”

Leadership Controversy

The governance structure of KAPATU has drawn attention, particularly the appointment of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as Founding Chancellor and Vice President Jessica Rose Epel Alupo as Founding Deputy Chancellor.

The promoters defend the arrangement:

“There is no legal impediment to the appointments… under any law.”

They also describe the positions as “non-substitutable” due to their historical and conceptual involvement in the project.

Broader Implications for Karamoja

The dispute highlights the importance of establishing higher education infrastructure in Karamoja, a region long underserved in university education.

KAPATU’s promoters say the project represents a major opportunity for education access, regional development, and economic transformation.

“All efforts towards the realisation of the first ever university in Karamoja Region must not be derailed by misinformation or institutional resistance.”

What Comes Next

As the NCHE Council prepares to review KAPATU’s application, the outcome will determine whether the institution receives a provisional license.

The decision could also set an important precedent for how Uganda regulates private universities with religious and political affiliations.

For now, the dispute remains unresolved, with both sides standing firm and the future of Karamoja’s first university hanging in the balance.