Minister probed over academic papers

Kampala- The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, is investigating junior Lands minister, Ms Persis Namuganza for alleged lack of requisite academic papers to serve as a Member of Parliament and in Cabinet.

The investigations by the Ombudsman were prompted by a petition filed by a group calling itself “concerned people” from Busoga Sub-region, the minister’s home area.

Ms Namuganza represents Bukono County, Namutumba District in the 10th Parliament.

“This is to confirm receipt of the complaint against minister Namuganza that is dated March 7, 2018,” IGG Mulyagonja said last Friday, adding: “We are going to carry out preliminary investigations into the complaint of her lacking academic papers.”

The concerned citizens state in their petition that the minister sat for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) but failed all the four examined subjects -- English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Obtaining F9s means a candidate would unlikely progress to the next academic level.

The concerned citizens allege in their petition that the minister does not have Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) qualifications. Advanced Level (A-level) or its equivalent is, under the electoral law, the minimum academic qualification for one to be a Member of Parliament while any elected MP is eligible for appointment to serve as minister.

“We do hereby submit in our complaint as reiterated below; SST-9, Science-9, Maths-9 and English-9, which makes her not to be qualified to proceed to another level of education,” the petitioners wrote, adding: “It’s also strongly alleged that she did not passes ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels.

She has forgeries up to the highest level. This tells you clearly that she doesn’t qualify to hold any public office of the MP and minister as well.”

The “concerned citizens” asked the Inspectorate of Government to expedite the investigations.
Minister Namuganza could not be reached because she never responded to our repeated calls.

Expelled. This petition comes at the time when the Busoga parliamentary caucus resolved to expel her with immediate effect at the weekend.
Accused. She is accused of having insulted and undermined Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and the Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom, Mr William Gabula Nadiope IV.
Barred. The caucus also barred Ms Namuganza from setting foot in their respective constituencies.

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