Although Prof. Ddumba Sentamu, the Makerere University vice chancellor dismissed the reports of the award of the fake degrees as false and unfounded, he said they have instituted investigations into the matter.
Members of the education committee of Parliament have grilled Makerere University officials led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ddumba Sentamu over the award of fake degrees.
URN broke a story in January this year indicating that 600 of the 12,000 graduates didn\'t meet the minimum academic requirements.
Half of the affected students didn\'t get clearance from their respective colleges for graduation due to among other issues accumulating retakes while some bribed their way to the graduation list.
Some of the fake graduates were from the college of Humanities, Computing and Information Sciences, Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.
But this morning, Prof. Ddumba Sentamu, the Makerere University vice chancellor dismissed the reports of the award of the fake degrees as false and unfounded.
He also denied that, Makerere University had recalled any degrees saying, the reports are aimed at tarnishing the image of the great institution. Dumba\'s statement drew protests from MPs who accused him of lying about what is happening at the university with the full knowledge of lecturers.
Sarah
Lanyero, the Lamwo Woman MP advised the Makerere University leadership there are loopholes in
its education system, which need to be urgently rectified.//Cue In:If I were…Cue Out:…very unfortunate//Jacob Opolot, the Pallisa County MP said Makerere University has for years been in the spotlight for several scandals including allegations that students are awarded marks in exchange for sex. He said the University should own up and take the media reports seriously and investigate its staff.
//Cue In: The issue here…Cue Out:…the ranks//Prof. Ddumba later admitted that there is an ongoing probe on allegations of attempts to alter marks for students who did not meet the requirements to graduate in the January 2015 graduation ceremony.
He said the probe committee headed by Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic Affairs, Prof. Okello Ogwang will release the report in April that will establish how the marks were altered by and those found culpable dealt with accordingly.
ENG//Cue In: The committee is…
Cue Out:…satisfied the request//
LUG
//Cue In: Ekyo sikituufu…
Cue Out:…eja kunyamba kko//
The investigation is expected
to look out for individuals who handled the results at what level, how examination marks are entered into the system, and the circumstances under which results change.
It is also expected to review the list of cases of irregularities, the list of students who retook courses, students discontinued and those that appealed for remarking, whose requests were granted.
Olive Eyotaru
Freelancer