Makerere University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has sparked controversy and public skepticism after confirming that he never obtained a bachelor’s degree before proceeding to a master’s program in the former Soviet Union.
His revelation has ignited heated debates, with many questioning how the head of Uganda’s premier university managed to skip an entire academic level and still ascend to the prestigious position of Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe, in his official response, detailed his academic journey, stating that he sat for his A-Level exams at Busoga College Mwiri in 1975 and was admitted to Makerere University for a degree in civil engineering. However, due to political reasons, he left Makerere in 1976 and instead joined the Kiev Institute of Civil Engineering in Ukraine. He claimed that he obtained a Master of Science in Architecture with distinction in 1983 and later a PhD in 1989.
“Note that there were no bachelor’s degrees for professional courses in Europe before the Bologna process,” Prof Nawangwe stated in his response, seemingly to justify his direct admission into a master’s program.
However, critics aren’t buying his explanation, pointing out inconsistencies in his academic history.
Social Media Reacts: ‘Nawangwe’s Story Doesn’t Add Up’
Following his clarification, social media exploded with doubts and tough questions, with some outright accusing him of academic fraud.
Pauline Muwanga, a concerned Ugandan, strongly dismissed Nawangwe’s justification:
“I think Nawangwe is not being forthcoming about his lack of a bachelor’s degree. The Kiev Institute was in Ukraine and part of the Soviet Union, which had its own education system unaffected by the Bologna Process. He says he got his master’s in 1983, but Ukraine didn’t gain independence from the Soviet Union until 1991. The Bologna Process was only initiated in 1999. So why is he using it as an excuse?”
Muwanga further questioned the admission process at the Soviet institution:
“I don’t think Nawangwe gained admission to a Soviet institution for a master’s program with just an A-Level certificate from Mwiri. What were the admission requirements for the Kiev Institute? Was Nawangwe proficient in Russian? Was the program offered in English? This story needs scrutiny. He could be presenting a diploma from an institute as a master’s degree and a degree from a university as a PhD!”
Another critic, @FrankieDraku, echoed similar concerns:
“You have no bachelor’s degree, Professor Sir. In 1975, you completed A-Level, and in 1976, you were admitted for a master’s degree—what kind of miracle is that?”
Others pointed to a pattern of African students being fast-tracked into Soviet universities for political reasons.
@NickTwinamatsiko wrote:
“Many Ugandans who went to Communist universities in the 70s and 80s had been rejected by Makerere. Interestingly, they were admitted for master’s degrees instead of bachelor’s. The communists needed influence in Africa and were willing to admit as many Africans as possible and give them papers that put them in a position to extend their ideology.”
Another Twitter user, @tomi_anyine, sarcastically added:
“Now we can gauge your leadership from your academic background. These results make a lot of sense!”
Lingering Questions
The doubts surrounding Prof. Nawangwe’s academic qualifications are raising serious concerns:
- How did he gain direct admission to a master’s program with only an A-Level certificate?
- Was the program in Russian, and was Nawangwe proficient in the language?
- Why does he use the Bologna Process (which started in 1999) as an excuse when he studied in the Soviet Union before Ukraine gained independence?
- Why has there been no independent verification of his credentials from the Kiev Institute?
This revelation adds to the list of controversies surrounding Prof. Nawangwe’s leadership at Makerere. From his iron-fisted approach to student protests to his questionable administration policies, the Vice-Chancellor has been no stranger to public scrutiny.
As pressure mounts for him to produce verifiable academic documents, many are now wondering:
Could this be the beginning of the end for Prof. Nawangwe at Makerere? Will Uganda’s top university investigate, or will this be swept under the rug?
The Nawangwe degree saga is far from over. Stay tuned.
