Kampala University’s alleged fake degree could hurt Uganda’s schools

The former chairman of the Kenya –Students Council Uganda Silas Maka Otuke has threatened to mobilize former Kenyan students in Uganda to burn education transcripts attained from Ugandan institutions if relevant authorities fail to handle well a case in which Kampala University is involved.

Otuke says KU’s management early this year awarded Hassan Ali Joho, a governor of Mombasa County in Kenya a fake degree-something that is unacceptable.

“We cannot accept that as former Kenyan students in Uganda,” Otuke says.

He said on top of burning transcripts, the group will mobilize other students, parents to stop studying in Uganda’s institutions. This, he said, could hurt the Uganda, Kenya relations.

Thousands of Kenyan students studying in Uganda bring in millions of money in form of tuition, accommodation and other fees.

“I don’t think Uganda will benefit after losing the money which Kenyan students currently bring in,” Otuke said, adding that is the main reason as to why the issue has to be handled professionally.

Uganda’s criminal investigations department is investigating the matter. The same matter is in a Kenyan court.

Otuke who says is a graduate of Makerere with a degree in law, said the KU degree awarded to Hassan could harm the process of the East African Community integration.

Otuke said it is impossible for one (Joho in this case) to attain a four years degree in less than three months because, he is said, Joho registered at KU late last year and was among those that graduated in February this year.

But the KU Director Badru Katerega was quoted in a local news magazine as saying: “Otuke is fighting a losing battle.”

The magazine further quotes Katerega saying that the matter began when Otuke’s candidate in the just ended Kenyan elections Suleiman Shabal lost to Hassan Ali Joho “and they are now using all means to bring down Joho”.

It is said that President Museveni is aware of the matter and is following the investigations.