Uganda gov’t denies reports of Nigeria rejecting its degrees

Summary:

• The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Uganda denies knowledge of Nigeria potentially rejecting Ugandan degree certificates over authenticity concerns, emphasizing the lack of complaints and urging specific information if issues arise, while cautioning against fraudulent degree acquisition and ongoing efforts to address concerns of substandard education and fake credentials in Ugandan universities.

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The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has refuted any awareness of allegations suggesting that Uganda is among African nations at risk of having their degree certificates rejected by Nigeria due to authenticity concerns.

Prof Mary Okwakol, the executive director of NCHE, stated over the weekend that there have been no complaints received regarding the legitimacy of academic papers issued by Ugandan institutions.

“We have not received any complaints from individuals, institutions, or authorities in Nigeria regarding degree certificates awarded by universities in Uganda. One of NCHE’s core functions is to receive and investigate complaints related to higher learning institutions and take appropriate action,” Prof Okwakol emphasized.

News reports from Ghanaweb on Thursday indicated that Nigeria had suspended the accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo, with potential extensions to other countries, including Uganda, Kenya, and Niger. The proposed sanction was reportedly confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Education Tahir Mamman during an appearance on Channels Television.

Prof Okwakol suggested that the concerned country should provide information if they encounter fake degrees to facilitate necessary actions. “In this case, there is a need for complainants to furnish us with information such as specific degree certificates found to be fake and the institutions that awarded them,” she explained.

Ms Rose Stella Akongo, an educationist and principal of Luigi Giussani Institute of Higher Education Kampala, cautioned against obtaining degrees in under two months, describing it as implausible. She urged prospective students to be vigilant against institutions offering substandard courses and acquiring academic documents through fraudulent means.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Mr Dennis Mugimba, refrained from commenting on the matter until Uganda receives formal communication about the issue. Last year, a Ugandan student faced challenges upgrading in a UK university due to an allegedly expired undergraduate course studied in Uganda.

In response, NCHE directed affected universities to submit all programs due for review by November 30. Approximately 1,500 study programs were initially termed “expired,” a designation later changed to “due for review.” Dr Vincent Ssembatya, NCHE’s director of quality assurance, confirmed that out of 4,369 accredited degree programs, 2,395 were in the final stages of approval.

Reports of fake degree awards prompted Makerere University to investigate, urging employers to reverify the degrees of Makerere alumni. Kyambogo University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka, acknowledged instances of students fraudulently obtaining degrees, emphasizing the university’s commitment to revoke degrees obtained through fraudulent means once facts are presented. There are also reports of some Ugandans using genuine academic documents that do not belong to them.