Uganda's most and least educated MPs

L-R: Mr Peter Sematimba (Busiro South) and Ms Namujju were challenged in court over questionable academic papers.

PARLIAMENT- Only 10 out of the 398 MPs hold doctorate degrees, more than 30 do not have a first degree while four hold only A-level certificates, an analysis of their academic qualifications provided by Parliament indicates. The minimum academic qualification of an MP is an A-level certificate or its equivalent.

The current Parliament has 431 MPs. Of these, 408 have already submitted their profiles to the Clerk’s office with 398 of them indicating their education levels.

Half of the 10 MPs with doctorates degrees double as ministers. They are Mr John Chrysostom Muyingo (Bamunanika County), Ms Joyce Moriku Kaducu (Moyo District Woman MP), Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu (Manafwa District Woman MP), Prof Ephraim Kamuntu (Sheema South) and Eng Gabriel Aridru (Vurra County).

Other PhD holders are Mr Nyiira Zerubabel Mijumbi (Buruli County) Clement Kenneth Ongalo (Kalaki County), Nsaba Buturo (Bufumbira East), Prof Ogenga Latigo (Agago North), and Keefa Kiwanuka (Kiboga East).

The 10 MPs are the most educated in the national assembly where 147 MPs hold masters degrees, 200 have bachelors degrees while 28 hold diplomas and 13 MPs have only certificates as their highest academic credentials.

Ms Aisha Sekindi (Teachers certificate), Mr Jimmy Akena (Advanced Level Certificate from the University of London), Mr George Abott (Grade III Certificate) and Mr Cherop Lawrence Mangusho (Certificate in Public Administration and Management) are among the 13 least educated legislators in the House.

Bundibugyo District Woman MP Josephine Bebona has two certificates (Certificate in Enrolled Midwifery and Certificate of Registration in Midwifery).

The least educated
The four MPs who are indicated as having only A-Level certificates are Mr Apollo Kantinti (Kyadondo East), Mr Nelson Lufaafa (Butembe County) and Mr Julius Opondo (Bujumba County) and Ms Jovrine Kaliisa (Ibanda District Woman MP). They are the least educated legislators in the 10th Parliament.

In an interview, Mr Opondo said A-Level is sufficient for MPs to ably perform their parliamentary duties. He is a member of the Sessional Agriculture committee and the Standing Budget Committee mandated with providing parliamentary oversight on the national budget.

“Lack of a degree does not impact on my work as a legislator. For representing people, A-Level is enough as long as you have the views and plans that can take this nation forward,” Mr Opondo said.

He, however, admitted that he plans to enrol for a course in Political Science next year to further his academic qualifications.

When contacted, Ms Kaliisa claimed she has a diploma in journalism but “did not include it in the bio” she submitted to Parliament because she “thought they just wanted the minimum qualifications.”

Uganda’s national literacy rate stands at about 72 per cent, according to figures from the 2014 Census Report. And there is no evidence in Uganda showing that better educated MPs perform their legislative duties better than less educated peers. The key roles of an MP are making laws, appropriating the national budget, providing oversight on government programmes and representing views of constituents in the August House.

Six MPs are still in Parliament after appealing High Court judgements that they lacked the minimum academic qualifications.

They are Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi (Lugazi Municipality), Peter Ssematimba (Busiro South), Charles Okello Engola (Oyam North), Rehema Watongola (Kamuli Municipality), Cissy Namujju (Lwengo South) and Edward Ssembatya (Katikamu South).

During her unsuccessful defence of her academic papers, Ms Namujju stunned High Court in Masaka when she failed to answer basic Primary Three questions like defining a map and pollination.

No privileges
However, the studded academic CVs of the 10 MPs with doctorate degrees do not guarantee them any special status at Parliament.

Prof Latigo, a former Leader of Opposition (LoP) says he shares office space with an unnamed MP who declined to leave space for him.

“I do not even have where to sit. The former occupant of the office I was allocated refused to vacate. There is nothing special except that people respect my record as LoP (leader of opposition),” Mr Latigo said.

With his background as farmer with a degree in Agriculture and a masters in Zoology, Prof Latigo says he is “the best person to help” the Agriculture Committee where he is a member. He also sits on the Rules Committee.

Prof Latigo says he joined politics “primarily because I did not agree with the approach of the political leaders.”

Dr Kiwanuka, who has a background in Health Policy and Business Administration, is the vice chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Public Accounts Committee. He says initially he was not interested in joining politics.

“I have been doing a lot of work in Kiboga, serving people in education sector, income generation and addressing problems of unemployment. As a result of my work, people asked me to stand. They naturally saw me as a political leader,” Mr Kiwanuka said.

Buturo, a former Kampala District Commissioner during the Milton Obote II government and a holder of a PhD in Public Administration, said although politics has been “adulterated”, individuals who have attained academic excellence always feel political offices provide a chance to turn around Uganda’s fortunes.

“Politics is the highest form of public service. Unfortunately, it has been adulterated. It is a feeling that once you have reached a certain level of your academic career, there is something unique you want to bring to the table,” said Dr Buturo, also former Ethics minister.

Prof Kamuntu, the minister of Tourism, holds a PhD in Law. He said he rose through the ranks as a student leader and even as he attained more academic papers, that did not diminish his desire to venture into politics.

“Leadership starts almost from youth. It does not matter what level of education you have, you realise that the desire to lead is in your spirit,” Prof Kamuntu said.