Mbarara University commenced student intake and instruction in 1989.

[3] It is one of the ten public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country.

The council members are drawn from stakeholders including university staff, students, and members from the Ministry of Education, other government departments, University Convocation, the Private Sector and the general public.

The University Senate is responsible for overall administration, of all academic programs.

The top management consists of the vice chancellor, deputy vice chancellor, university secretary, academic registrar, dean of students, and the executive director of Mbarara Hospital.