KAMPALA – Legislator Peter Sematimba, whose qualifications was a subject of a challenge during his previous political campaigns as MP in 2016 has emerged victorious in the 2019 S.6 results released today, with a smart score of 13 points.
Mr. Sematimba, the MP for Busiro South constituency who sat his S.6 exams in Luweero District at an undisclosed school scored (GEP: 6 -(1), CRE: D – (3), LIT: D – (3), ART: B – (5) and CST: 4 – (1) = 13 points.
An MP needs a minimum qualification of A’Level to qualify for Parliament. Mr. Sematimba’s opponents accused him of lacking the minimum requirement but was saved by a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a lower court declaration that his papers didn’t suffice.
The legislator last year said whereas he possesses genuine academic papers obtained from the United States of America, he was tired of being sued over papers and this is why he decided to go back to earn the UACE that Ugandans understand.
“When I was contesting in Busiro South, I was frustrated because of this certificate. My papers were from America and I was certified by the National Council of Higher Education but I decided to go back and achieve this senior six certificate that many Ugandans understand,” he said.
In June 2016, Justice Lydia Mugambe kicked Mr Semantimba out of Parliament over a lack of the required academic credentials.
Justice Mugambe in her ruling faulted the National Council of Higher Education (NICHE) for avoiding to independently verify the authenticity and validity of Mr. Sematimba’s Diploma in Electrical and Computer Technology, said to have been obtained from the Pacific Coast Technical Institute based in the US.
