As senior six candidates allover the country continue with their Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams that kicked off on Monday, we have learned that Busiro South Member of Parliament and Super FM CEO, Peter Sematimba is among the candidates who are currently sweating with their exams in Luweero District.
Sematimba is currently in Luwero with singers Geoffrey Lutaaya and Irene Namatovu who are also sitting for their senior six exams. The married singers are reportedly eyeing political positions in 2021 but their dreams could be shattered due to lack of academic papers. More details indicate that Geoffrey Lutaaya failed senior six 20 years ago after he scored aggregate 62.
It should be recalled that Sematimba was in 2016 kicked out of Parliament by High Court Judge Hon. Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe after a petition filed Democratic Party’s Steven Sekigozi challenged the Super FM boss over lack of required academic papers.
Ssekigozi told court that Sematimba had a certificate that was issued by the East African Examinations Council of 1978 which was equivalent to the UACE minimum requirement for one to take part in Parliamentary polls.
Sematimba told court that National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) gave him a Certificate which he presented to the Electoral Commission during his nomination. In her ruling, Lady Justice Mugambe decided that Sematimba’s candidature was illegal before ordering for fresh elections. Lucky for him, the court of appeal reinstated Sematimba as the MP for Busiro South constituency.
While speaking to NBS’ UNCUT reporters yesterday, Sematimba confessed that his papers were from the United States of America where he acquired his early education back in the days.
“When I was contesting in Busiro South, I was frustrated because of this certificate. My papers were from America and I was certified by the National Council of Higher Education but I decided to go back and achieve this senior six certificate that many Ugandans understand,” Sematimba said.
Apparently, Sematimba holds a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Technology which he obtained from the Pacific Coast Technical Institute in the United States of America.