War of words over Joho papers

Uganda’s education and intelligence officials have differed over investigations into the authenticity of academic papers of Mombasa County governor Hassan Ali Joho.

Although Education Minister Jessica Alupo says the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) investigated and concluded that Mr Joho genuinely obtained an academic transcript from Kampala University (KU), the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations director Grace Akullo says her investigations have to continue to establish the truth.

In a letter to President Yoweri Museveni dated December 9, 2013, Ms Alupo says her office had obtained documentary evidence that Mr Joho studied at Kampala University.

The CIID investigations were ordered by President Museveni and a report is expected later on December.

The papers have been shrouded in controversy since March over claims that he fraudulently obtained the academic transcript of Kampala University, and yet he was not attending lectures at the institution.

The governor, who maintains that he has a Business Administration degree from Kampala University, insists that his papers are genuine.

The matter has since received wide coverage in both Kenyan and Ugandan newspapers after a case was filed in a Mombasa Court against Mr Joho.

A petitioner, Mr Silas Otuke, wanted the Mombasa governor ordered to provide details about the studies he undertook at Kampala University.

Mr Otuke filed an affidavit in court, saying, the governor should lead by example and present material to the court on his university education.

He claimed that Mr Joho was not a holder of any degree from a recognised university, and was therefore, unqualified to run for governor.

According to Mr Otuke, the truth as to whether Mr Joho ever attended university and studied for a degree could not be swept under the carpet.

“Certainly, the truth will come out irrespective of massive efforts to hide it,” he said.

The petitioner, through lawyer Gikandi Ngibuini, wants the court to declare null and void a gazette notice that announced Mr Joho and his deputy, Ms Hazel Katana Ogunde, Mombasa Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.

INTERESTED PARTIES

Mr Otuke has listed Mr Joho and Ms Ogunde as interested parties in the suit and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Attorney-General as first and second respondents.

Early December, the NCHE executive director, Prof John Opuda-Asibo wrote to the Ministry of Education indicating that Mr Joho had been cleared since they were satisfied that his degree was dully awarded, and urged CIID to halt their parallel investigations.

Prof Opuda cited Section 5(f) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institution Act 2001 (as amended) which mandates NCHE to investigate complaints relating to institutions of higher, not CIID.

“NCHE believes that the above captioned matter should be drawn to a conclusion, since there is no further evidence to suggest otherwise,” Prof Opuda said in his letter to the minister for Education, which is dated December 5.

But in her latest rebuttal, Ms Akullo said Prof Opuda’s assertion that there was no further evidence on Mr Joho’s case was misleading and meant to frustrate her investigations.
Ms Akullo says although KU furnished NCHE with documents in defence of Joho’s academic papers, it does not imply that Mr Joho actually passed through the due process.

“What is in dispute which is the subject of this investigation, is the process of acquiring this degree,” Ms Akullo said in her letter to Ms Alupo dated December 13.

She adds: “The purpose of this letter is to inform you that CIID is still investigating this case and we will furnish you with a comprehensive report and action taken on this matter.”

Recently, Prof Badru Katerega, the vice chancellor of Kampala University recorded a statement at CIID and said he is ready to face the law if police find that the  institution forged Mr Joho’s academic transcript.

Prof Katerega insists that Mr Joho was offered a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a diploma in human resource at the university under the in-service programme .

In October, police visited the University’s main campus in Gbaga, a city suburb, and arrested the academic registrar, Mr Hamza Ssegawa, for reportedly failing to provide CIID with information vital to the investigation.