Kyambogo VC Calls for Reform in Doctoral Supervision Standards

During a high-level retreat for university administrators in Entebbe, Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka issued a bold call for a total overhaul of the PhD supervision model in Uganda. Katunguka argued that the current system is “too slow and often frustrating” for candidates, leading to high drop-out rates and a shortage of qualified senior lecturers.

“In Uganda, it takes an average of seven years to complete a PhD that should take three or four,” Katunguka lamented. “Some of this is due to funding, but much of it is due to a lack of accountability from supervisors. We need to move to a ‘Contractual Supervision’ model where both the student and the supervisor are held to strict timelines.”

He proposed that universities should implement a “Supervisor Performance Index,” where a professor’s promotion is tied to the successful and timely completion of their postgraduate students. He also called for the digitalization of the thesis review process to prevent manuscripts from “sitting on desks for months.”

The proposal has sparked a heated debate among academics. While younger researchers welcomed the call for efficiency, some senior professors argued that “intellectual maturity cannot be rushed” and that the current delays are often due to poor quality work from students. Regardless of the stance, the Ministry of Higher Education has promised to review these suggestions as part of the 2026 Higher Education Reform Bill.