the Humanist view

I wondered, why the hullabaloo candidates are put through to answer allegations of “he or she doesn’t have papers”?

Among the prominent, questioning of Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi’s (aka Bobi Wine’s) academic papers, by the notorious lawyer Male Mabirizi.

“Bobi Wine’s academic details available at the parliament website indicate that he was born in 1982 and sat A-level in 1998. This means that if he was born in 1982, he sat A-level at 16-years, O-level at 13-years and PLE at 9-years and started his educational journey at 2-years only which is peculiar.”  Mr. Male Mabirizi

Then there is the case of Hon. Sing Katongole.

“When I missed out on the opportunity to go to Parliament as a party flag bearer, I decided to go back to school. This thing haunted me and at first, I couldn’t understand what was happening but later I came to my senses and decided to enroll, just to prepare for 2021 elections. I want to go to Makerere University to study Political Science. I will then go back to my constituents of Rubaga North to ask for votes to in 2021. I urge all people out there who do not have academic papers to go back to school, its never later to study.” Hon. Sing Katongole (quote and photo @ Daily Monitor)

And true to his word, Hon. Katongole did. “Ex-MP Sing Katongole scores 13 points in UACE” screamed a Daily Monitor headline.

Following which he made a political come back. “Return of the mark! Sing Katongole back into Kampala politics after victory in NRM CEC polls.”

It is fascinating how in Uganda the norm is to fallaciously equate “he doesn’t have papers …” to he is incompetent to hold political office.

It is mind boggling how knowledge attained via schooling in a bastardized version of the British colonial schooling system, a legacy of colonialism, is prioritized. Assumed a superior indicator of competence to hold political office.

It does not matter what subject matter the persons studied in the formal school system. If one has an academic certificate, for MPs a UACE certificate, they are considered competent to hold political office on the national stage.

Until we appreciate the danger of this fallacy, wisdom will continue to elude us and we will continue to have incompetence reign in the civil and public service of our nation.