By Okem J Sas RichBoi
[Campus Media House]
3rd April 2026,
Kampala, Uganda – In response to ongoing online discussions and concerns among students, parents, and teachers, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, Academic Registrar of Makerere University, has issued a statement reaffirming the official weighting system for admission into the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme at public universities in Uganda.
In a message addressed to parents and teachers, Prof. Mukadasi provided a clear breakdown of the current A-Level subject weighting used for MBChB admissions across all public universities:
- Essential subjects (weighted ×3): Biology and Chemistry – the two compulsory subjects required for Medicine.
- Relevant subject (weighted ×2): The better of Mathematics or Physics.
- Desirable subject (weighted ×1): General Paper (GP), Subsidiary Mathematics (Sub Maths), or ICT.
Prof. Mukadasi emphasized that this standardized weighting system ensures fairness and consistency. As a result, candidates offering either the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) or BCM (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics) combinations receive equal consideration for MBChB admission, provided they meet the minimum requirements and achieve competitive weighted scores.
“There is no official policy preferring one combination over the other,” the statement read. “Both PCB and BCM carry equal weight under the established criteria.”
The Academic Registrar urged stakeholders to exercise caution regarding unverified information circulating on social media, which he described as potentially diversionary and aimed at causing unnecessary public anxiety.
“Admission criteria for university programmes are determined through a formal process involving the Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Council for Higher Education, and University Councils,” Prof. Mukadasi noted. “No changes have been made to the current policy.”
He encouraged parents, teachers, and prospective students to rely exclusively on official communications from Makerere University and relevant government bodies rather than informal online discussions.
The full statement concluded with:
“Let’s rely on official information rather than informal posts. Kindly ignore such diversionary debates aimed at causing public crisis and panic.
Blessings and kind regards,
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
Academic Registrar,
Makerere University.”
This clarification comes at a critical time as students prepare for university applications. Official weighting details and admission guidelines for the 2025/2026 academic year are available on the Makerere University website and through the Joint Admissions Board (JAB) channels.
Parents and students seeking further guidance are advised to consult the university’s Academic Registrar’s Office or visit the official Makerere University admissions portal for the most accurate and up-to-date information.