University says Joho’s papers are not fake

By WILLIS OKETCH

The mystery of Hassan Ali Joho’s degree from Kampala University continues to deepen after the institution came to his defense following a case filed challenging the authenticity of the document.

The case was filed by lawyer Gikandi Ngibuini who also represents Joho’s rival, Suleiman Shahbal in a petition challenging the governor’s election win.

The applicant in the case, Silas Make Otuke, a former Kenyan student in Uganda, says that he got letters from two Ugandan officials saying Joho’s certificate is a fake.

Titanic battle

The court case is likely to be a titanic battle between Joho and Shahbal who has previously attempted to challenge the governor’s academic qualifications.

The Vice Chancellor of Kampala University, Prof Badru Kateregga has issued a statement saying Joho was a student at the university.

“Kampala University hereby asserts, contrary to the ongoing false reports that Mr Hassan Ali Joho was a bona fide student of Kampala University who was accordingly awarded a degree upon successful completion of his course of study,” he said.

Joho’s lawyers are now promising another tough battle to defend the governor against the case challenging his academic qualifications.

Advocate William Mogaka said he would prove that “the certificate is genuine and that the allegations are false”.

The lawyer declared: “We have a dossier replying to all these allegations and we have been waiting for them to file their claim.”

Part of the defense applications will be affidavits and letters from the Kampala University confirming that Joho’s certificate is genuine.

Authorities

In a letter seen by The Counties, the head of the legal department of Kampala University, John Kabagambe, says the university stands by Joho’s certificate.

Mr Kabagambe also says issues to do with academic qualifications and related queries can only be handled by competent authorities.

“For the record, the competent authorities that are vested with powers to deal with a matter of this nature, are the National Council for Higher Education of Uganda, and the Commission for Higher Education of Kenya which have not pronounced themselves negatively in regard to Joho’s qualification” he said.

Mr Kabagambe also said the two government officials who signed the letters alleging that Joho did not graduate from Kampala University are political officers who have no role in academic matters.

The two Ugandan officials are Ms Zaina Muwonge (Resident District Commissioner of Rubaga) and Mr Mpimbaza Hashaka (Resident City Commissioner of Kampala)

“Kampala University recognises and stands by the degree it awarded to Joho and testifies to its authenticity and bonafides,” says Mr Kabagambe.

He added “We need to reassure all and sundry, that no authority has cancelled Hassan Ali Joho’s degree as falsely alleged.”

According Joho’s lawyer, the issues in question was determined by a competent court in Nairobi whose judgment was never contested in the Court of Appeal.

Challenges

The challenges targeting Joho’s academic qualifications started last year when Ms Janet Mbete, a former ally of Prime Minister Raila Odinga who quit ODM to join Wiper Democratic Party, moved to court questioning the same degree. The case was later dismissed and Mbete ordered to pay costs.

Joho, who has been keeping off the media promised to prove that his degree is genuine.

“I was number 33 in our group when I was graduating. I have even a video clip to prove that I was in the graduation ceremony,” Joho said.

Otuke has gone to court seeking orders to have the election of Joho nullified over claims he did not qualify to be a gubernatorial candidate  during March 4 General Election.

He has sued the Attorney General, IEBC and enjoined Joho and his deputy governor, Hazel Nyamoke Ogunde as interested party.

Otuke’s lawyer has gone to the court under a certificate of urgency arguing the matter was extremely urgent. He argues Joho‘s qualifications were under probe and he should not hold office.

He asked the court to enlist the  hearing of the case on a priority basis  claiming the Joho has never had any degree as such he was not fit to hold that office.

Degree certificate

“Joho is not and has never been a holder of a degree certificate from any recognised  university which is against his being in the office,” Gikandi said.

The lawyer said since  Joho was not a degree holder, he was not fit to be the Governor of Mombasa County because the law does not allow.

Among the documents filed include a letter which was written by a district officer in Kampala on May 22 this year asking Director of Investigation and Intelligence Department of Uganda to investigate alleged fraudulent acquisition of a degree by Hassan Joho.

The letter written by Hashaka   and copied to City Commissioner in Kampala asks the investigators to liaise with Interpol to handle the matter.

Otuke in his affidavit says that although the high court confirmed Joho had a genuine certificate, there were doubts whether he went to Kampala University.

He says having been a student in that university himself, he could have seen Joho there as he was an assistant minister for Transport and Kisauni MP.

“I found it strange and mysterious that such a high profile individual would have been a student in the university during my stay there without my knowledge,” says Otuke.

Fake papers

He cited Wakoli Bifwoli, a former Member of Parliament whose presence at the university in 2011 was easily noticeable.

Otuke says following investigation by  the police he had  finally received letters from Quarter Zone Security Committee in Kampala which has  confirmed Joho never studied in Kampala, Mtundwe Campus.

He claims transcripts from Kampala University that Joho filed in the High court in Nairobi when Jannet Mbete sued him were fake.