News | Daily Monitor, March 31, 2008
YASIIN MUGERWA
KAMPALA
TORORO RDC Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka is among six post-graduate students suspended over exam cheating at Makerere University.
Mr Hashaka, whose registration number is 2006/HD03/8084U, was pursuing a Masters Degree in Leadership and Human Relations before the university authorities convicted him jointly with other students on charges amounting to coursework fraud.
Mr Hashaka also heads the Uganda Transparency Consultants (UTCs), a local NGO whose specialty is among other things to combat corruption and promote integrity in the country.
Daily Monitor has obtained a letter dated December 12, 2007, in which Dr Abasi Kiyimba, the deputy dean in charge of examinations wrote to Dr Abdul-Fattah Katende, the head of the Department of Religious Studies, informing him about the decision taken by the Examinations Faculty [of Arts] committee.
"Please note that MA students listed below appeared before the Faculty [of Arts] Examinations Committee, charged with involvement in coursework fraud, and they were found guilty of the offence," Dr Kiyimba wrote. "The Committee decided that they should be suspended for one academic year (2008/09)."
Other culprits include; Mr Richard Ssaku (2006/HD03/8099U), Mr Isaac Mudoi (2006/HD03/8083U), Mr Edward Bita Lwanga Calm (2006/HD03/8065U), Ms Pamela Ankunda (2006/HD03/8262U) and Mr Alex Ssebayizzi (2006/HD03/7426U).
"Any examinations or coursework assignment that they may have written during the period of their suspension are irrelevant and should be cancelled," the letter reads in part.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Hashaka said Makerere was witch-hunting him because of his position in government. "We were given a study group assignment in Research Methods and there was nothing like copying because we presented our work as a group," Mr Hashaka said.
"It was a scheme targeting some people like us because we are like "white chicken" and we can easily be seen. This was planned because my firm [UTCs] is investigating corruption at Makerere."
But sources close to the dean's office have described the incident as a "breach of trust" at the university, which is allegedly under pressure to rekindle its reputation as a credible academic giant with reliable credentials to produce the quality brains.
The new scandal comes amid public criticism over the increased exam irregularities and reports of transcript forgeries and sex - for- marks allegations that have damaged Makerere University's reputation on the continent.
Talking about the implication of examination fraud, Mr Vincent Nuwagaba, a political scientist said; "If you have courseworks done for you, you forge documents, or cheat exams you get a certificate, which is a mere paper and not a degree."
"If fake people are hired what stops them from perpetuating the system that saw them enter office? If one forged papers or cheated exams, what would stop them from stealing public funds?" he wondered.
This is not the first crackdown on cheating students; in March 2007, the university expelled over 80 students for cheating exams during the academic year 2006/07.
The affected faculties were; Computing and Information, where 29 students were expelled indefinitely, School of Education (12), Faculty of Arts (15), Social Sciences (15), and Faculty of Law (10).
To save the integrity of the university, Dr Kiyimba has directed that Mr Hashaka and other culprits should vacate the university premises until they have served their sentence.
"The purpose of this letter is to advise you that this decision is in force, and the above students are not eligible to attend any classes or write any examinations until they have served their suspension," Dr Kiyimba wrote. While Mr Hashaka and some other four students appeared before the committee, their colleague Mr Ssebayizzi is facing a tougher action after he ratedly failed to appear before the committee to answer similar charges of academic fraud.
"According to the regulation in force, this student should have been recommended for dismissal for defying the committee; but the committee decided that he should be given one more invitation, after which he will be recommended for dismissal if he doesn't turn up," Dr Kiyimba's letter reads in part. "Please advise the above students on the seriousness of this position, and the dangers related to acting in defiance of the above ruling of the Examination committee."
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