Makerere University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe is facing a storm of controversy as questions arise regarding the legitimacy of his academic qualifications. The scrutiny began last week when activists raised concerns about the integrity of Makerere’s administration, culminating in Prof. Nawangwe’s detailed defense of his academic record.
In response to the allegations, Prof. Nawangwe provided an extensive statement clarifying his academic background. He detailed his education, starting with his performance in the Uganda Primary Leaving Examination in 1969, where he emerged as the top student in the country. Nawangwe further claimed that he was the best student in Uganda in the 1973 East African Certificate of Education (EACE) exams, having sat the exams at Busoga College Mwiri. He continued to excel with two principal passes in mathematics and physics during the East African Advanced Certificate of Education (EAACE) in 1975, despite being largely self-taught.
His academic journey took an international turn when political unrest in Uganda led him to leave Makerere University in 1976. He later enrolled at the Kiev Institute of Civil Engineering in Ukraine, where he graduated with distinction, earning a Master of Science in Architecture in 1983. Prof. Nawangwe’s academic journey culminated in a PhD in Architecture from the same institution in 1989.
Regarding his promotion to the rank of Professor, Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that the publication of two books had never been a mandatory requirement at Makerere University. Instead, he submitted five peer-reviewed publications to the university’s Appointments and Promotions Board, which were vetted by an external professor. The vetter’s positive report confirmed the credibility of the publications and led to his promotion to Professor.
He also defended his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, stating that he submitted 14 peer-reviewed publications as part of his application, exceeding the minimum required number. Nawangwe maintained that he met all other criteria for the position and was duly appointed.
Despite this defense, public skepticism remains, particularly regarding his lack of a bachelor’s degree. Critics have pointed to discrepancies in his LinkedIn profile, which lists him as having enrolled in a civil engineering course at Makerere University in 1975. However, the specialized civil engineering program was not introduced until 1996, raising questions about the accuracy of his claims.
Some analysts have defended Nawangwe’s academic background, explaining that the Soviet Union’s education system, where he studied, operated under a different structure than the British system used in Uganda. It was common during the 1970s and 1980s for Ugandans to be admitted directly to master’s degree programs in communist universities, rather than pursuing bachelor’s degrees at Makerere, which had different admission standards at the time. This argument was also supported by author Nick Twinamastiko, who pointed out that many Ugandans who had been rejected by Makerere found opportunities in Soviet universities and later contributed significantly to Uganda’s education sector.
There are also discrepancies regarding Prof. Nawangwe’s A-Level results. According to his statement, he was the best student in his cohort, but his results show a C in physics, a Can in mathematics, and an O in chemistry, with an F9 in the practical component. While Mathias Ssemanda, a public relations officer for Makerere University, supported Nawangwe’s claim of being the best, Twinamastiko contested the narrative, referencing a conversation with another professor who recalled a different best student, Jolocam Mbabazi, who achieved outstanding results in his cohort.
