Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) has installed Dr. Jonans Tusimiire as the acting leader of its pharmacy unit. According to Nile Post, this move follows the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda’s (PSU) decision to suspend accreditation for the university’s Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. The new appointment began on October 19, 2026, and is scheduled to last for a quarter. Tusimiire holds the rank of senior lecturer and serves as deputy dean for health sciences, while also presiding over the PSU.
The PSU announced on Monday that it had suspended the program’s accreditation immediately. The society pointed to shortfalls in personnel, doubts about the department’s previous leadership, and a lack of response to a formal inquiry sent on September 10. That inquiry gave the university thirty days to justify keeping its status. After a special council meeting, the PSU halted the assignment of student identification numbers and the validation of internship sites. It also paused the eligibility of new graduates for qualifying exams.
MUST explained that the leadership vacuum appeared in May 2026 when the former department chief left for a senior role at a different state institution. The departure became active in July. The university’s registrar sought a successor in July, yet no senior-level pharmacist was available. Administrators then selected a senior lecturer with a nursing background to serve temporarily. The university defended this choice by highlighting the interim leader’s experience in pharmacology and clinical research.
To fix the personnel shortages, MUST secured financial approval from the Ministry of Finance and obtained permission from the Ministry of Public Service on October 14. This clearance allows the university to begin hiring. The institution stated that it will publish job advertisements in the coming weeks for senior academic roles. Successful candidates will be selected to permanently lead the pharmacy department. The university aims to speed up hiring and promotions to resolve the gaps that caused the initial suspension.