MP Sematimba glad it is over

KAMPALA - Busiro South MP Simon Peter Sematimba emerged among the best performing students in last year's A'level examinations.

Sematimba, who did Divinity, Literature, Fine Art and a subsidiary in Computer/Information Technology, scored 13 points. He sat for his A'level examinations at Kakoola High School in Ziroobwe sub-county, Luweero district.

When contacted, Sematimba was in high spirits although the legislator said he expected to perform better.

"I am a bit disappointed. I expected to get a minimum of 16 points, with an ‘A' in divinity. But I am surprised people are happy about my results. I am also glad this is over. It was stressful. I studied for 10 months, starting from January last year and I lost my weekends because I would be with my teachers from 8:00am to 6:00pm every Saturday and Sunday. I would miss regular Sunday service, but now I have my weekends back. I will also be able to do my businesses," he said.

Sematimba said he was motivated to go back to school because people, especially political opponents, found it hard to understand his American academic documents.

"I did not do this because I did not have the equivalent of S6 results (the minimum required for an MP), but because I wanted to disprove some people," he said.

Sematimba said he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration at Charper Oaks State University in the US, which he expects to finish by mid-next year.

"After my bachelor's in the US, I might pursue a degree in law in Uganda," he said.

Sematimba said besides God, his family, as well as pastors Robert and Jessica Kayanja, were supportive towards acquiring his achievement.

He said he spent over sh350m in a court battle trying to prove that his documents were equivalent to an A'level certificate.

"In order to avoid another court battle, I found it necessary to go back to school," Sematimba added.

In June 2016, High Court Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe threw Sematimba out of parliament over the lack of academic papers after the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, Steven Ssekigozi, filed a petition.

However, Sematimba insisted that his qualification of a diploma in electrical and computer technology, which he obtained at the Pacific Coast Technical Institute in the US, was equivalent to an A' level certificate.

Through his lawyers Muganwa, Nanteza and company advocates, Sematimba appealed Mugambe's decision, arguing that there was nothing wrong with his academic papers.

Upon appeal, the Court of Appeal, on September 18, 2017, nullified the High Court ruling and upheld the election of Sematimba as the Busiro South MP. Sematimba stood on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket.

The ruling by the judges of the appellant court dismissing Mugambe's ruling was read by the Court of Appeal deputy registrar, Deo Nizeyimana.