Victoria University has been ranked Uganda’s second-best university in a revised institutional assessment by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), placing it behind Makerere University and ahead of Kampala International University.
The university scored 87.4 points, compared with Makerere University’s 88.9 points and Kampala International University’s 85.8 points, according to the reported assessment results.
The ranking places Victoria University among the country’s leading higher education institutions and highlights its performance across several indicators used to assess universities’ institutional capacity, academic programmes and student participation.
The assessment considers seven areas of performance, including student enrolment, programme viability, graduate training, gender balance, participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), female participation in STEM and curriculum relevance.
Victoria University has a reported student population of 14,113 enrolled across 66 academic programmes, with an average of 128.7 students per programme. The institution was placed in the “Leading” performance category under the assessment.
The figures point to the university’s growing presence in Uganda’s higher education sector, where institutions are increasingly expected to provide relevant academic training, develop practical skills and prepare graduates for a changing employment market.
Women account for 50.1 per cent of Victoria University’s student population, while students enrolled in STEM programmes represent 52.7 per cent of its total enrolment. Female students constitute 49.2 per cent of those pursuing STEM-related courses, according to the reported figures.
The representation of women in science and technology programmes is particularly relevant as Uganda seeks to strengthen its capacity in digital innovation, engineering, scientific research and other technical fields.
Under Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Muganga, Victoria University has promoted practical education, technology integration and work-integrated learning as key elements of its academic approach.
The university’s work-integrated learning model seeks to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and workplace demands by giving students opportunities to develop practical competencies alongside their academic knowledge.
The institution has also promoted a Work-Integrated Learning Transcript intended to document students’ practical skills, industry projects and workplace-related experiences, complementing their conventional academic qualifications.
The approach reflects growing calls for universities to produce graduates who can demonstrate practical abilities, solve problems and adapt to the demands of employers and entrepreneurs.
Victoria University offers programmes across several disciplines, including law, pharmacy, nursing, public health, business, journalism and communication, agriculture, tourism, information technology, software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science.
Its range of programmes reflects the changing demands of Uganda’s economy, particularly in areas where employers need professionals with specialised knowledge and the ability to apply emerging technologies.
The university’s position in the assessment also places attention on the importance of maintaining academic standards, strengthening research and ensuring that programmes remain relevant to the country’s development priorities.
While institutional rankings provide a useful basis for comparing performance against selected indicators, the long-term value of a university also depends on the quality of teaching, student support, research output, graduate employability and its contribution to society.
The reported second-place position provides a benchmark for measuring its progress as it seeks to strengthen its academic standing and expand its contribution to Uganda’s higher education sector.
