Prof Mary Okwakol, the executive director National Council For Higher Education (NCHE) handed over the charter to the university at a colourful ceremony today.

Under the law, a charter is granted to universities that have demonstrated high quality in staffing, teaching and learning, research output, technology and practical-led learning, infrastructural development, and good governance, among other issues.

For any institution to be accredited, the president and the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) must be satisfied after a series of inspections and visitations.

Victoria University is the 11th private university in the country to be chartered, out of 32 private universities in Uganda. This is on top of the other 10 public universities in the country.

A charter now means that Victoria University’s academic awards can now be recognized by all universities and institutions around the world; in case one is securing a job or upgrading in academic studies.

It also means that the university has attained the same privileges like the public universities in the country, other than the direct financial support to the institution.

However, the institution will get special recognition and support in the areas of funding students’ education, especially through the Students Loan Scheme, under the Higher Education Students Financing Board.

By law, the charter also allows Victoria University to begin awarding all degrees, including Bachelors, Masters, Doctorates, and Honorary degrees.

The university said in a statement that it has already laid the ground for the start of a doctoral college, with a plan to start 30 Ph.D. Programmes in the next two years.

Victoria University is the leading University in Uganda and East Africa when it comes to offering Experiential and Work Integrated Learning.