A recent joint investigation by the police and Kyambogo University management has unearthed a disturbing case of academic malpractice involving two ICT staff members. The preliminary findings indicate that the implicated personnel engaged in the alteration of marks for four students, jeopardizing their eligibility for the 19th graduation ceremony taking place this week.
According to sources close to the investigation, the illicit activities were uncovered when a female student with a retake sought the assistance of the two ICT staff members to alter her marks for graduation clearance. Shockingly, the staff members went beyond this initial request, altering the results of three more students who approached them with similar intentions, charging a fee for their services.
The university’s deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs and the academic registrar are leading the investigations, utilizing the Academic Management Information System (ACMIS) to track the alterations. The system’s two-factor authentication mode, which keeps a comprehensive audit trail of all ICT staff activities, played a pivotal role in identifying the culprits.
Preliminary audit trails confirmed that the two implicated staff members not only changed the marks of the affected students but also fraudulently upgraded the award level of one student from a second-class upper degree to a first-class. The system’s IP address revealed that all alterations were made within the ICT offices at the university.
The two-factor authentication system ensures the security and accountability of ICT staff working on the ACMIS. To make any changes to student marks, staff members must request an update of “change of marks” and receive a token number via SMS or email for identity verification. In this case, investigators discovered that the implicated staff received tokens on specific dates when the results were illegally altered.
The university promptly suspended the two ICT staff members and the four affected students after a whistleblower, also a student, brought the matter to the administration’s attention. Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka, affirmed the suspension and emphasized the institution’s commitment to maintaining academic integrity.
Prof Katunguka warned that if the staff members are found guilty, disciplinary action, including dismissal from the university, could be taken against them. He also emphasized that even if students graduate this week, the university has the authority to revoke their awards if later discoveries reveal altered marks.
The university management, in collaboration with Heads of Departments (HoDs), has decided to omit the altered results and conduct a comprehensive audit of all student results to gauge the extent of mark alterations. The investigation has also brought to light the potential negligence of some teaching staff who may compromise the integrity of the ACMIS by sharing their credentials with unauthorized individuals.
As Kyambogo University grapples with this academic scandal, the incident underscores the importance of robust systems and vigilant oversight to preserve the sanctity of academic records and maintain public trust in the education system.
