KAMPALA – Police at Kyambogo University are investigating a racket involving some staff members, who dishonestly alter students’ grades as well as aiding unqualified individuals to make their way onto the graduation list.
Sources at Kyambogo revealed that at least eight students implicated in doctoring of marks as well as other clearance requirements have reportedly been arrested pending an inquiry into the matter.
The Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka noted during a press conference on Monday that his office had been flooded with complaints, from various students claiming that despite fulfilling all the graduation requirements, their names were missing from the list, whereas those with known re-takes had been registered.
“It started as a rumour. We gave it attention and preliminary findings showed that there was foul play going on.
“Indeed, some students who had retakes had appeared on the graduation list. They had altered marks,” revealed Prof Katunguka.
He added that his office had since received information from investigators showing that the racket comprises former students who had graduated a number of years ago but had remained on the campus as well as some staff members.
Kyambogo University is set to hold its 18th graduation ceremony starting December 7, 2022. But when the graduation draft list was released, complaints from both students and parents started filing-up at the Vice Chancellor’s office.
However, in response, the University administration reasoned that students, who were missing from the list, had either faulted on their tuition or had retakes. Unsatisfied students, numbering to at least 40, petitioned the high court for an injunction, but court saw no merit in their complaints.
Katunguka, acknowledged how some students’ concerns could be genuine, outlining an instance where results had been filed late beyond the senate’s deadline for an addendum. He however, promised that those, who might not make it to the graduation, would be availed transcripts ahead of their graduation.
This year, at least 12,080 people will graduate in various fields – with five receiving doctorates in philosophy. Available data indicates that since the institution’s founding, this is the largest class to graduate all at once.
The university vice-chancellor credited the recent decentralisation, in which each department now handles all academic matters, for producing the highest number of graduates.
Meanwhile, with this high number, there have been growing concerns about how the ceremony, which is strictly physical involving all students, even those from study centres will converge at the main campus in the face of the revived COVID-19 restrictions.
According to Anatoli Katungwesi – the Kampala Metropolitan –East Police Commander, all attendees at the graduation are required to observe Covid-19 SOPs.
President Yoweri Museveni on Friday reactivated SOPs requiring any attending a public gathering to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificates.
Additional reporting by URN
