The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Police Force has started inquiring into the circumstances under which the former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu obtained his Diploma in Music, Dance and Drama at Makerere University.
The investigations stem from an order issued by the Law Development Centre Magistrates Court directing the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over the case filed by Male Mabirizi.
In September 2021, Mabirizi petitioned the LDC court to summon Kyagulanyi on grounds that he fraudulently obtained false registration at Makerere University. Kyagulanyi graduated from Makerere University with a diploma in Music, Dance and Drama-MDD about 20 years ago.
But Mabirizi contends that Kyagulanyi fraudulently obtained entry into Makerere University through the mature age entry scheme since he was just 20 years old by the time of his admission on October 21, 2000, which was contrary to Makerere University prospectus of 1999/2000-2000/2001.
The prospectus in question set the maximum age of entry into the mature age scheme at 25 years or for one to have completed formal education at least five years to the year of admission, which was not the case with Kyagulanyi.
Mabirizi presented Kyagulanyi’s form leading to his admission at Makerere University, which he personally signed on October 20, 2000, indicating that he was born on February 12, 1980, and studied at Kololo Senior Secondary School and Kitante Hill School.
This implies that by the time Kyagulanyi was admitted to pursue the course on government sponsorship, he was only 20 years of age and had not completed formal secondary education five years before his admission.
As a result, Mabirizi asked the court to summon Kyagulanyi to plead to the charges of obtaining registration by false pretence or he tables overwhelming evidence from Makerere University implicating him for fraud, which attracts a one-year jail term upon conviction.
On October 6th 2021, the LDC Grade One Magistrate Augustine Alule allowed the DPP to take over the matter. Consequently, the LDC Court Resident State Attorney Hanifa Kasana wrote to the Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations Department at Wandegeya on October 11th 2021, to make inquiries into the matter to up its logical conclusion.
“Refer to the above-captioned matter which came up under private prosecutions by Mr. Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka and the DPP took over as per the attached letter dated 6/9/2021”, reads the letter in part.
It adds, “you are hereby instructed to investigate this matter to its final conclusion. The evidence from the complainant is attached, liaise with him for further evidence, speed up the investigations since the matter was adjourned to 4/11/2021.”
The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire says that police have already received the letter and recorded a statement from Mabirizi. He says that investigations have since started and before this weekend, some officials from Makerere University will also be summoned to present their side of the story as inquires continue.
Kyagulanyi’s lawyers led by George Musisi told URN that his client is yet to receive any summons in relation to the investigations, adding that they only learnt of the matter through social media.
According to Musisi, the DPP and the police are acting within their mandate to investigate his client and all they want from them is to do it professionally such that the truth comes out.
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