The Uganda National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has issued a directive prohibiting individuals awarded honorary doctorates from using the title “Doctor” (abbreviated as “Dr.”) before their names, a move aimed at curbing the misuse of honorary degrees and confusion regarding academic qualifications.
In a press statement released May 08, 2025, the NCHE Chairperson, Prof. Joy C. Kwesiga, emphasised that “an honorary award (Honoris Causa) is not an academic award, therefore, it cannot be used for academic, professional or work-related purposes.”
Prof. Kwesiga explains that honorary degrees are strictly ceremonial and should not be equated with earned academic doctorates. “The NCHE has noted with concern the manner in which individuals acquire honorary degrees… and how the recipients use them,” she noted.
Under the new guidelines, NCHE outlined that honorary degrees in Uganda can only be conferred by public universities, public degree-awarding institutions, private chartered universities, and private degree-awarding institutions.
These degrees, Prof Kwesiga says, fall into three categories: Doctor of Laws (LLD) for public service, Doctor of Letters (DLitt.) for contributions to the humanities, and Doctor of Science (DSc.) for contributions to science.
She further clarified that “the nomenclature for honorary awards shall not include ‘PhD’ anywhere… and recipients should not be addressed orally or in writing as ‘Doctor’.” For example, “John Doe, LLD (Hon. Causa),” and not “Dr. John Doe” or “John Doe (PhD).”
The Council also warned that “members of the academia, the public, and media should NOT address a recipient of an honorary degree orally or in writing as ‘Doctor’” and urged all stakeholders to comply to avoid “embarrassment”.
The NCHE directive follows concerns about individuals acquiring honorary degrees from both local and foreign institutions and subsequently using the title “Doctor,” potentially misleading the public and employers, but Prof Kwesiga reiterated that all foreign-awarded honorary doctorates are subject to these guidelines.
The directive is seemingly expected to affect prominent Ugandans who have been recipients of honorary doctorates in recent years.
For instance, in January 2024, Makerere University awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to Justice Frederick Martin Stephen Egonda-Ntende and Hon. Betty Oyella Bigombe for their distinguished contributions to the legal field and peacebuilding efforts, respectively.
In 2022, Justice Emmanuel Baguma received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Commonwealth University, recognized for his role in championing civil liberties.
The NCHE has strongly urged all stakeholders, including higher education institutions, the media, and the general public, to adhere to these guidelines to maintain the integrity of academic titles and avoid potential embarrassment.
“All higher education stakeholders and the general public are advised to adhere to the above guidance to avoid embarrassment,” Prof Kwesiga concluded, inviting those with questions about their awards or academic designations to contact NCHE directly for clarification
