By Kasozi Nasser
The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) has reminded all individuals who intend to aspire for any Parliamentary seat in any district or Constituency, in the forthcoming 2021 polls, to verify their academic credentials before it is too late.
UNEB says any member according to Section 4(1) © of the Parliamentary elections Act 2005 has to have completed a minimum formal education of Advanced Level Standard or its Equivalent, to qualify to be a Member of Parliament.
“For purposes of paragraph © of subsection 1, any of the following persons wishing to stand for elections as a member of Parliament shall establish his or her qualifications with the Commission as a person holding a minimum qualification Advanced Level Standard or its Equivalent at least two month before nomination day in case of the general elections and two weeks in case of the by-elections,” reads part of the statement which was released by UNEB on Friday this week.
The statement which was signed by Dan. N .Odongo, the Executive Secretary of UNEB reminded the MP hopefuls about the Section 4 (13) of the Act which reads;
“For avoidance of doubt, if a candidate has an Advanced Certificate obtained in Uganda or qualifications higher than the prescribed qualification obtained I Uganda, or obtained from former University of East Africa or any of its constituency colleges, then there shall be no need for verification of his or her qualification by the National Council of Higher Education,”
Mr. Odongo asked the aspiring candidates who have their original Advanced Level Certificates to stop wasting their time with UNEB,
“However, in the case of those who may have lost their certificates, UNEB will issue Letters of Verification upon application by the aspirant,” he said
UNEB’s clarification comes in a period when a number of aspirants have stormed their offices to verify their academic credentials as the 2021 polls nears.