Kioga MP candidate Adupa says University of Nairobi academic documents genuine
“The story was written as if the University had disowned my papers. But the University has already clarified twice that I am a bona fide alumnus,” he insisted.
Kioga County parliamentary seat aspirant Felix Adupa Ongwech dismissed all allegations raised in the petition filed by Ongia, including claims that he forged UNEB records and never attended Bombo SS, calling them “a smear campaign by a perennial loser. (Courtesy photos)
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Kioga County parliamentary seat aspirant Felix Adupa Ongwech has told New Vision Online his academic documents are authentic.
The development contradicts earlier allegations suggesting that the Kenya-based University of Nairobi had disowned his degree and diploma.
Adupa, who is the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer for Kioga County in Amolatar district, on Monday appeared at New Vision Online's head offices seeking to “set the record straight,” saying the reports of fake academic documents are misleading and based on a forged document that had already been dismissed by the university.
“This morning, I received calls from senior party leaders asking me to look at the story,” Adupa said.
“When I read it, I was shocked. The story was misleading, blackmailing me and intended to smear my name. My comment was never sought.”
He explained that the quoted letter, dated November 4 and purportedly signed by university official Peter Mbuthia, which the story quoted, was the very document he had already submitted to Uganda's Electoral Commission as proof of forgery.
He said the petitioner in the case, Col. Dr. Francis Ongia, presented the letter claiming it originated from the University of Nairobi.
“When we realised the document was suspicious, I personally wrote to the University of Nairobi seeking clarification,” he said.
“I received their response on November 7 confirming that the letter was fraudulent.”
In that November 7 communication, the University stated that its internal verification found that “no such letter was issued or dispatched from this institution” and that the reference document “should be treated as fraudulent.”
Another letter, reportedly from the university, dated November 14, issues a formal clarification directly to the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Uganda, confirming the authenticity of Adupa’s academic papers.
New Vision Online has seen copies of these letters, but could not independently verify their authenticity.
In the second letter, signed by Prof. Ayub, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, the University states: “We hereby confirm that Mr Adupa Ongwech Felix was duly admitted to the University of Nairobi on January 11, 2012. He... completed his studies and was awarded a Diploma in Information and Communication Technology in 2014 and a Bachelor of Commerce (Business Administration) in 2020.”
The letter, which included certified copies of his transcripts and certificates, added that “any documents or letters purporting to originate from this University disowning his academic certificates without proper authentication should be treated as null and void.”
The University also reminded all parties that, as per its policy, verification letters are not issued to private law firms unless accompanied by a court order or a request from a competent authority, an indication that the letter used in the petition did not follow established procedure.
Adupa said this makes it clear that the earlier story misrepresented the University’s actual position.
“The story was written as if the University had disowned my papers. But the University has already clarified twice that I am a bona fide alumnus,” he insisted.
He dismissed all allegations raised in the petition filed by Ongia, including claims that he forged UNEB records and never attended Bombo SS, calling them “a smear campaign by a perennial loser.
“This is a man who has never won an election in Amolatar. I attended his rallies when I was in primary school. He is afraid because I defeated him, and now he is pushing propaganda,” he said.
Adupa said he will now await the Electoral Commission’s verdict.
“I have defended myself. I have nothing to hide,” he added.