The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Law Development Centre Court in Kampala has summoned National Unity Platform President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu requiring him to appear in court and take plea on charges of obtaining false registration at Makerere University.
The summons issued by Grade One Magistrate Augustine Alule require Kyagulanyi to appear in court without fail on October 7th 2021 at midday to answer to the criminal charges levied against him by city lawyer Male Mabirizi.
“Whereas your attendance is necessary to answer to charge of obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to section 312 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 120; You are hereby commanded by the Uganda government to appear in this Court on the 7th October 2021 at 12:00 noon or soon thereafter as the case may be heard”, reads the summons in part.
The summons signed on Tuesday afternoon also indicate that they have been issued on the application of private prosecution. The summons arise from criminal proceedings instituted on Kyagulanyi by Mabirizi.
On Monday, Mabirizi asked court to summon Kyagulanyi for having allegedly obtained false registration at Makerere University.
Kyagulanyi graduated from Makerere University about 20 years ago with a Diploma in Music, Dance and Drama-MDD, which Mabirizi alleges that he obtained through a fraudulent process.
According to Mabirizi, Kyagulanyi who was then 20 years old was on October 21, 2000, registered as a student of MDD on a mature age entry scheme contrary to Makerere University Prospectus of 1999/2000-2000/2001.
The Prospectus in the question of which Mabirizi has submitted a certified copy signed by the Academic Registrar of Makerere University Alfred Namoah Masikye indicates that; for one to be admitted for the mature age entry at that time, one was at least to be 25 years old or for one to have completed formal education at least five years previous to the year of admission, which was not the case with Kyagulanyi.
To support his case, Mabirizi submitted other certified copies of evidence from Makerere University showing Kyagulanyi’s form leading to his admission which is dated and signed by him on October 20, 2000.
The form also indicated that Kyagulanyi was born on February 12th 1980, and studied at Kololo Senior Secondary School and Kitante Hill School, implying that by the time he was admitted to pursue the course on government sponsorship, Kyagulanyi was 20 years of age and neither had he finished formal education five years before his admission.
Accordingly, he asked court to summon him take plea and if he denies the charges, he will be able to lay overwhelming evidence obtained from Makerere University to pin him on the crime in issue which attracts a one year jail term upon conviction..
In June 2021, Mabirizi sued Makerere University before the Civil Division of High Court seeking orders compelling Makerere University to deprive and recall Kyagulanyi’s Diploma in Music, Dance and Drama for having obtained it illegally.
The case which is also seeking costs for the damages caused to Mabirizi in pursuit of the case is yet to be fixed for hearing.
Previously, Mabirizi also instituted criminal cases accusing Kyagulanyi of having lied about his age and date of birth when he was joining the 10th Parliament as the Kyadondo East MP and when he was registering to get a passport from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
But the DPP has since taken over these cases which are scattered in Kampala and Wakiso Courts and have since stalled after the mentioned government department’s delay to provide him with supporting documents as evidence.
****
URN
