The ongoing academic feud between Retired Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande and Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba has taken a fiery turn after the General hit back at the professor in a post on X (formerly Twitter), mocking his academic credentials and telling him to “leave gigs.”
The online exchange began when Prof. Baryamureeba, a former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, publicly questioned the legitimacy of Gen. Rwashande’s First-Class Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy awarded by Nkumba University during its 27th Graduation Ceremony last weekend.
In his initial post, Prof. Baryamureeba challenged Rwashande to resit one of his exams, claiming he would donate UGX 100 million to the General’s campaign if he could score an “A” under a neutral examiner not affiliated with Nkumba University.
But in a sharp retort posted on his verified account @EmmRwashande, the General fired back:
“A professor in IT from prestigious universities, Norwegian and Bergen but can’t create even an app? What’s that title (prof) for???
My young brother, invest that money in yourself, leave gigs!!”
The jab appears to be a direct dig at Baryamureeba’s academic background in Information Technology and his long career in academia, questioning his practical contributions despite his impressive résumé.
Background to the Feud
Gen. Rwashande’s academic achievement had been celebrated by his supporters as a personal victory and a comeback following past scrutiny of his education qualifications during NRM primaries, where his eligibility was challenged by Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo.
However, Baryamureeba’s public challenge rekindled skepticism over the authenticity and merit of the General’s first-class award, sparking an intense debate online over academic standards, credibility, and political influence in Uganda’s higher education sector.
Rwashande’s fiery response has since gone viral, with many social media users taking sides — some defending his right to celebrate his academic success, while others back Baryamureeba’s call for accountability.
Silence from Nkumba University
As the verbal sparring continues, Nkumba University has yet to issue any official statement regarding the matter. Sources at the university suggest that administrators are monitoring the situation closely but prefer not to engage in the ongoing online altercation.
Public Reactions
The exchange has drawn mixed reactions across social media. Some users praised Rwashande for “standing his ground,” while others argued that his comments lacked decorum, especially towards a senior academic.
“Both men are missing the point,” one X user commented. “This should be about strengthening academic integrity, not personal insults.”
For now, the Rwashande–Baryamureeba spat remains one of Uganda’s most talked-about academic showdowns — a clash between military discipline and academic authority, playing out in the public eye, tweet by tweet.
