Makerere University Vice Chancellor John Ddumba Ssentamu has suspended a senior lecturer over academic fraud.
It is alleged that Prof Elisam Magara from the East African School of Library and Information Sciences awarded and submitted marks to the head of department without marking the students’ scripts.
In a December 4 letter, a copy of which Daily Monitor has seen, Prof Ddumba acknowledges receipt of Prof Magara’s explanation to the allegations but adds that they were unsatisfactory.
“This is to acknowledge receipt dated December 1, giving explanation for the submission of results for unmarked scripts for course RAM 2108: Oral history and Paleography. I find your explanation unsatisfactory. You also claimed for and were paid funds for the unmarked scripts, which you now agree to refund,” reads part of the letter to Prof Magara.
“This amounts to gross academic misconduct. Your actions are prejudicial to the proper performance of duties and university’s image. You are hereby suspended from duty on half pay, pending investigations and final decision by the appointments board.” But Prof Magara yesterday refuted the claims, saying they were schemes being used against him by some individuals to tarnish his name.
“What they are claiming is not true. I know they have a project which has been pending since 2010 and they want to cover up. He is suspending me through the media. This is an administrative issue. What is his interest? I will wait for what he has put in the letter I have not received. Read Luke 21: 13-17. I don’t want to talk bad about my university I have worked for the last 19 years,” Prof Magara said.
Prof Constant Okello-Obura, the principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences, yesterday said the matter had been forwarded to the university management.
Prof Okello-Obura said the results for 33 students were subsequently cancelled and their scripts given to another lecturer who has since completed marking them.
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