UNEB Verifies Non-Presence of Bobi Wine's O and A Level Response Sheets

Amid an ongoing narrative, Uganda's Examination body, UNEB, has informed lawyer Hassan Male Mabirizi that they do not possess the UCE and UACE (Uganda Certificate of Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education) answer sheets for Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, the President of the National Unity Platform. In response to Mabirizi's request for the senior four and senior six answer sheets of Kyagulanyi, UNEB's Executive Director, Dan Odongo, sent a letter confirming, "This is to acknowledge receipt of your request and we wish to inform you that UNEB doesn't have the answer script for those years." Mabirizi's query to UNEB stemmed from his receipt of Kyagulanyi's result copies in 2020, which raised suspicions due to apparent irregularities. Mabirizi communicated to UNEB, "I have carefully examined the results you provided to me on August 27, 2020, and noticed that the candidate who is claimed to have taken the exams and your statement that there were no candidates’ photo albums in 1996 and 1998. I am therefore inclined to believe that Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu might have employed someone else to write his Ordinary and Advanced Level exams for him." The lawyer's concern about potential forgery raises legal issues under Section 19(d), which specifies that anyone who impersonates or attempts to do so is committing an offense. Mabirizi highlighted this potential offense, noting, "Any person who intentionally presents themselves as an enrolled candidate or attempts to do so commits an offense and can be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or imprisonment for up to two years, or both." To address these concerns, Mabirizi invoked the Access to Information Act, 2005, and requested Kyagulanyi's answer sheets to compare handwriting and potentially verify authenticity. Mabirizi indicated the possibility of utilizing UNEB's authority under the Uganda National Examinations Board Act, 2021, to review Kyagulanyi's results if inconsistencies were found. This recent development follows a separate legal case brought by Mabirizi against Kyagulanyi, alleging fraudulent registration and admission into Makerere University two decades ago. The case, initially ruled in favor of Mabirizi, has now been handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action. These unfolding events continue to shed light on Kyagulanyi's educational and legal history.