Kyambogo: 50 students, 7 staff accused of fraud

By Innocent Anguyo and Clare Muhindo

PRELIMINARY findings of a rigorous probe undertaken by Kyambogo University aimed at recovering all money owed to the institution has faulted seven members of staff and about 50 students for allegedly defrauding the institution.

The students face punitive disciplinary action that is yet to be determined by the University Council, Kyambogo’s top decision making body. Sources at the university have not ruled out indefinite suspension being invoked against those implicated.

According to Kyambogo University’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka, students would connive with some university officials and bank staff to evade payment of fees.

The decision to undertake the probe, Kyambogo University spokesman Lawrence Madete said was informed by reports that a growing number of Kyambogo students were either studying for free or at a fee lower than that required of them.

“Many students would come to Kyambogo University and study for free. They would collude with some university and bank officials to beat the system,” Madete said recently.

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The probe will affect Kyambogo University students both old and new.

It is alleged that students would bribe the same university officials who would in turn refer them to specific bank officials so that they could be allowed to pay lesser amounts of university fees than is required of them.

The students would then be issued with a bank slip bearing the required fees value. The university officials would then share the money with the unscrupulous bank staff. Since Kyambogo’s verification system was manual, fraud would be hard to detect.

During the probe, students were ordered to submit proof of payment dating back to the day they were admitted to Kyambogo University.

“The amount on the receipts is then compared to that actually deposited in the university account. Students who owe the university are made to clear their arrears before they can be cleared for graduation,” narrated Madete.

Madete said degrees of all former students who defrauded the university and studied using falsified documents could be cancelled.

“If you know that you deliberately owe Kyambogo University a penny, please rush to clear your debt or else your degree could be cancelled,” warned Madete.

Madete revealed that all the officials and students found to have defrauded the university would face punitive disciplinary action. The University Council will soon announce the specifics of the supposed disciplinary action.