By James Magala
The Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya, has rallied the heads of higher institutions of learning to lead the fight against forgery of academic documents, saying there are “too many” fake documents and titles on the job market.
Kamya passed on the message to the educationists during the 20th graduation of Kampala University at a function held at their main campus in Ggaba, Kampala as 2,394 students were awarded diplomas and degrees.
She said forgery of academic documents has increased and asked the institution leaders to devise means of averting the vice.
“I wish to challenge institutions of higher learning to jealously protect your titles because there are too many fake and forged certificates and titles on the job market,” she said.
“There are also too many cheap doctorates that are bought, not earned through hardwork and academia.
“I am sure you all know that one can buy a doctorate for $2,000 (about sh7.5m) from the internet. And the streets are littered with doctors who just bought them, not earned them.”
In the same spirit, she warned the fresh graduates against corruption.
‘Education, education, education’
Meanwhile, speaking at the same function, the university’s chancellor, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, asked the Government to increase the funding for the education sector, underlining that it is the centre for sustainable development.
“The richest man in the world [Bernard Arnault, CEO and chairman of LVMH] is worth more than $230b (about sh858.8 trillion). The GDP of Uganda is a paltry $40b (about sh149.4 trillion),” he said.
“Forty-four (44) million people share $40b and one man in the world owns over $230b. The difference is education.
“Therefore, if we want to grow as a continent, we must do three things: the first one is education, the second one is education and the third is education.”
