Fresh evidence: Bobi Wine risks losing Makerere diploma over alleged irregular ‘mature age entry’ admission

Perennial litigant Male Mabirizi wants Makerere University to cancel National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s diploma in music, dance and drama over alleged irregularities in admission under mature age entry scheme.

Last year, Mabirizi sued Bobi Wine in Wakiso and Buganda Road Courts for giving false information after discrepancies in the singer-turned-politician’s age.

But the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later took over Mabirizi’s case.

On October 16, 2020, High Court Judge Wilson Kwesiga upheld Buganda Road Court’s ruling instructing the DPP to take over the case.

However, a dissatisfied Mabirizi rushed to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) challenging Justice Kwesiga’s decision.

As he awaited the EACJ’s ruling, Mabirizi continued seeking further evidence against Bobi Wine.

On December 22, 2020, Mabirizi asked Makerere University academic registrar Alfred Namoah Masikye for a copy of policies and rules on mature age entry admission, particularly for 2000, when the institution admitted Bobi Wine (Kyagulanyi).

“I am in receipt of your letter dated 11th December 2020 in which you availed me certified copies of some academic documents of Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert Registration number 00/U/3223,” wrote Mabirizi.

“Upon going through the documents, I discovered that born on 12th February 1980, the student sat and passed University Mature Age Entry Examination held on 3rd March, 2000 for entry into the course of Diploma in Music, Dance and Drama on which basis he was admitted.”

The lawyer suspected Bobi Wine could have used the back door to gain his admission since the mature age entry policy guidelines could have sieved him out.

“This raised eyebrows given that it is contrary to the long-standing publicly known policy that mature entry examinations are only sat by individuals above 25 years of age,” continued Mabirizi.

“On the face of it, he must have committed several offenses and fraud especially that he enjoyed Government Sponsorship based on mature age entry to which he was not qualified.”

Indeed, the University Prospectus 1999/2000- 2000/2001 that academic registrar sent alongside his response to Mabirizi on March 12 shows that the mature age entry limit was at least 25 years.

“Candidates who are at least 25 years old and who completed formal education at least five years previous to the year of admission, may apply to sit the mature age examinations,” reads the policy in part.

Yet Bobi Wine — born on February 12,1980 — was 20 years by the time the university admitted him in 2000.

Mabirizi wants Bobi Wine’s diploma cancelled.