David Musiri, a second year student of Makerere University has petitioned the Director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, Grace Akullo to investigate the University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe for issuing illegal degrees, corruption, diverting money meant for bursaries among other allegations.
In his letter dated February 4th 2019 to Akullo, Musiri describes himself as the Chairperson of former suspended students of Makerere. Musiri goes ahead to allege that after his suspension from the university following the 2018 protest on the 15% tuition increment, Prof. Nawangwe connived with his Personal Assistant, Gordon Mulangira to cancel his name from the Chinese Embassy Scholarships, a crime he believes should be investigated.
“I have reasons to suspect that the duo divert that money and pocket it….they usually manufacture excuses for withdrawing bursaries arbitrarily from needy students, on the pretext of indiscipline, and they later divert it for themselves”, part of Musiri’s letter reads.
The second matter Musiri wants to be investigated by police is under which circumstances Miss Uganda, Quiin Abenakyo was allowed to graduate without meeting the necessary requirements.
“I have recently come into possession of the ‘Academic record’ of Miss Africa Quiin Abenakyo who graduated from Makerere University on 18th January, 2019. These documents reveal that Ms Abenakyo didn’t complete all the legal requirements for the award of the degree in question, and the Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe personally covered up this mess , for reasons best known to him”, the letter further elaborates.
According to Musiri, he is willing to disclose more victims of Nawangwe’s acts if the CID opens up on investigating the matter.
“I have also received numerous reports from concerned students that the Vice Chancellor and his Personal Assistant Gordon Murangira usually facilitate the grant of fake marks and fake degrees to select students from privileged backgrounds. They also abuse their power to manipulate marks for certain students who are deemed critical of their administration or otherwise unwanted. There are many victims of this syndicate whom I shall disclose to you. Please investigate this syndicate”. Musiri writes.
More exclusive information affirms that on August 20th, 2018, Abenakyo penned a letter to the Principal of Makerere University Business School, Professor Waswa Balunywa asking him to postpone her retake paper until when she returns from the miss World beauty contest.
After failing to get a reply of her first letter, Abenakyo later wrote informing the university that she had returned from the Miss World Competition where she emerged as Miss World Africa.
“I would wish to retake this examination so that I graduate. I gather that the graduation ceremony will take place on January, 18th, please allow me to retake the paper and graduate”, Abenakyo wrote.
Abenakyo’s winning letter convinced Prof Balunywa to write to Prof Nawangwe, requesting him to allow Abenakyo sit a special examination on January 12th, 2019 so that she can proceed with her future plans.
“Allowing her to sit this examination would be a contribution of the institution in enabling her to pursue her career “, reads part of Prof Balunywa’s letter. She was later awarded a second class degree in Business Computing on January 17th, 2019 during the Makerere University 69th graduation ceremony.
Earlier last year, Makerere University recalled over 700 Degrees after it was discovered that some students hacked the result management system and illegally entered their marks yet they did not qualify to graduate.
