In search of one among the Best Medical Institutions in Uganda where you can bag a medical degree? Well, you’re on the right article to get the right information.
As awesome as this may seem, the most tasking and challenging field one could get into in Uganda is the Medical field. Talking about the very common barrier is the admission process and requirements which include a minimum score/grade on national level A exams leading to the endorsement of the Uganda Certificate of Advanced Education and must be administered by the Uganda National Board of Exams.
Before I proceed with the details on the best medical schools in Uganda, it’s best to let you know how these medical schools operate in Uganda, isn’t it?
HOW MEDICAL SCHOOLS OPERATE IN UGANDA
Before any candidate can get admitted into any of the best medical schools in Uganda, the candidate must have reached or surpassed the minimum score required in the national level ‘A’ exams which lead to the granting of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education and then administered by the Uganda National Board of Exams. It takes 5 years to obtain a degree in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and this can remain this way only if there’s no reputation.
The first year involves basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.
The second-year has to do with history, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, psychology and introductory psychiatry.
The third-year is spent revolving through the 4 major clinical departments of internal surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics, and gynaecology.
The fourth-year involves public health which has to do with community health projects and the surgical specialities of otolaryngology, orthopaedics, urology, neurosurgery and ophthalmology. The fourth-year also covers clinical psychiatry, infectious diseases and tropical medicine.
The fifth-year revolves through the four major major clinical fields that are synonymous to the third year.
There are usually important exams students sit for, at the end of every year and any candidate who failed to pass the exams is usually relocated to another field or department.
Most medical students usually feel frustrated and depressed during this period due to the unknown “will I make it through?”. Some may even go as far as committing suicide due to the ridiculous outcome of their yearly examinations and money spent which leads to depression and maybe suicide.
Even after a student must have successfully passed the final exams of the fifth year and had received the title of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, he/she must undergo one year internship in a hospital-based in the individual’s field of medicine and under the supervision of a specialist in that same field. Afterwhich, the Uganda Council of Physicians and Dentists will grant an unrestricted license to the successful candidate to practice medicine and surgery. Quite an uneasy journey but it’s worth it.
Also, if a candidate decides to obtain a Master’s of Medicine degree then such candidate must go through the postgraduate medical training. Here the training lasts for three years. But in the case of acquiring a PhD, that is, Doctor of Philosophy, one must undergo a period of instruction, research and examination spanning 3-to-5 years in selected clinical disciplines. And to get into this process, a recognized Master’s degree is required before admission into the PhD program.
THE 6 BEST MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN UGANDA
1. Makerere University School of Medicine
This is a public institution also referred to as the Makerere University School of Medicine, is the medical school of Makerere university. This is the largest, oldest and also one of the very best medical schools present in Uganda. This medical school was established in 1924 and it’s been providing medical education at the diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Makerere University School of Medicine is among the schools that have the college of Health Sciences of the University of Makerere which is a semi-independent constituent college of the University of Makerere. This institution is headed by a principal and a deputy director while each of the schools is directed by a dean.
On the Mulago Hill in northeast Kampala in Uganda is where the Makerere University School of Medicine is located. The institution is about 5 kilometres, that is, 3.1 miles northeast of the central business district.
Preclinical departments of the medical school are joined together with the faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Makerere while the Mulago Hospital complex and the Makerere University School of Public Health are joined with the clinical teaching fields.
Tuition fee to study here ranges from UGH 1,344,000 – 2,240,000.
2. Mbarara University School of Medicine
This is a public institution established in 1989. The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Mbarara also known as the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Mbarara is the Medical School of University of Science and technology of Mbarara.
The teaching discipline of the medical school is joined with the regional reference hospital. At the Mbarara Regional Reference Hospital is where the institution is located. It measures about 295 kilometres, that is, 183 miles by road, southwest of Kampala which is the capital of Uganda. It’s no doubt that Mbarara is the largest urban centre in the region.
Tuition fee to study here is UGX 1,344,000.
3. Gulu University School of Medicine
Established in 2004 is a public Medical University called the Gulu University School of Medicine. This institution is also referred to as Gulu University Medical School. It was two years after the establishment of the Gulu university that the Gulu university of medical school was established, that is, the Gulu University was founded in 2002.
The Gulu University Medical School offers medical education at undergraduate, bachelor and postgraduate level. The Gulu Regional Referral Hospital is where the practicals and clinical education usually takes place. This Hospital is the largest government hospital in Northern Uganda and Saint Mary’s Hospital Lacor.
This institution had its First class of Doctors in January 2010 after it was founded in 2004, that is, 6 years after its establishment. Its citadel for learning is located within the boundaries of the city of Gulu which is considered as the largest urban centre in northern Uganda with about 345 kilometres, that is 214 miles on the road, north of Kampala in Uganda.
Tuition fee needed to study here ranges from UGX 1,344,000 – 1,955,000.
4. Clarke International University
Established in 2008 is a private institution formerly known as International Health Science University but presently referred to as Clarke International University, although this institution is non-resident in Uganda. The institution is part of the Clarke Group which is a conglomerate of agribusiness, education, hospitality, healthcare, leisure and philanthropy companies.
The main campus of Clarke International University is located at 4686 St. Barnabas Road, Namuwongo, which is a southern-eastern part of Kampala, Uganda. Its second campus is located in the upper Lubowa district which is about 11 kilometre south of Kampala’s central business district on Kampala-Entebbe street.
5. Kampala International University School of Health Sciences
This is a private institution established in 2004. The Kampala University of Health Science is the same as the School of Health Sciences of Kampala International University.
This citadel for learning carryout teachings on health sciences in diploma, basic and advanced level. The school has a license to teach basic and postgraduate courses in dentistry, human medicine, nursing and pharmacy. Amazingly, this institution is recognized by the medical and dental regulatory agencies in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
This institution’s campus is located in a city called Ishaka which is in the district of Bushenyi in the western Uganda and measures about 330 kilometres, that is, 205 miles on the road of the west of Kampala, Uganda.
Tuition fee needed to study here is UGX 2,250,000.
6. Uganda Martyrs University School of Medicine
Established in 2010 is the Uganda Martyrs University School of Medicine which is officially named Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School. This school is also referred to as the medical faculty of Uganda Martyrs University.
The newest medical faculty was established in June 2014, it’s the newest in Uganda and presently offers postgraduate medical education in the fields of internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, emergency medicine and gynaecology. This school of medicine is located in Nkozi, Mpigi district while the school’s campus is located on Nsambya Hill in the south of Kampala, Uganda which measures about 5 kilometres.
Tuition fee needed to study here is UGX 2,500,000.
CONCLUSION
To study a medical course in just any institution and to study a medical course in one of the best medical institutions are two different things as the differences are very obvious. Mainly those who study in just any medical school are the reasons we have quack doctors in our world today – doctors who weren’t well grounded due to low-level of exposure on the field. This shouldn’t be your side of the story. So, go for the best.
I hope with the above listed best medical schools in Uganda, you’ll be able to afford one, enrol and get the best on medical education.
Good luck on your career!
Medical Qualification acquired from Uganda Medical Colleges / Universities are recognised internationally? can someone go for higher education MD any international country ?