Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) has reached a historic academic milestone with the official accreditation of its first Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in Agro-Ecological Sciences.
The development was confirmed following the 79th meeting of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) held on April 25, 2025, signalling a new era of research and innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Prof. Pius Coxwell Achanga, the MMU Vice Chancellor, hailed the achievement as a testament to the institution’s growing academic excellence.
“Excited to share that Mountains of the Moon University has achieved a significant milestone! After a thorough evaluation, the National Council for Higher Education accredited our first PhD in Agro-Ecological Sciences at its 79th meeting on April 25, 2025,” said Prof. Achanga in a statement.
He praised the commitment and vision of the university’s leadership and academic staff in realising this goal.
Besides the PhD programme, the NCHE also accredited several other academic offerings at MMU, including a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Diploma in Computer Science, and two Higher Education Access Programmes in Biological and Physical Sciences.
These new additions further expand the university’s academic portfolio and open more pathways for students across the country.
Sustainable Agriculture
The PhD in Agro-Ecological Sciences is designed to train scholars in advanced, interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable agriculture, ecosystem management, and food systems.
According to Prof. Achanga, this programme is expected to address pressing environmental and agricultural challenges in Uganda and the broader East African region, providing evidence-based solutions and research leadership.
Located in Fort Portal, Western Uganda, MMU continues to establish itself as a centre of excellence in higher education with a strong emphasis on community-oriented research.
The launch of its first PhD programme cements the university’s status as a trailblazer in agro-ecological education and demonstrates its commitment to fostering sustainable development across the region.
NCHE Warns Against Misuse of Honorary Doctorates
The accreditation for the MMU PhD in Agro-Ecological Sciences comes at a time when the NCHE has issued a public warning against the growing misuse of honorary doctorates in Uganda.
The council, in a statement released Wednesday, May 7th, 2025, emphasises that honorary degrees, commonly referred to as honoris causa, are not academic awards and cannot be used for professional or work-related purposes.
According to standing regulations, only chartered universities accredited by the NCHE may confer honorary doctorates in Uganda, and the recipients must use honorary degrees with proper attribution, such as ‘LLD (Hon. Causa).’
The NHCE also warned that Honorary degrees must not bear the “PhD” label and must specify their honorary status, and that foreign awards must be subjected to NCHE verification procedures to confirm authenticity.