By Sandra Birungi

Uganda Law Development Center (LDC) has won a probe to investigate the academic papers of Fred Mukasa Mbidde and Micheal Mabikke.

The duo tried to stop the probe saying the committee probing was not duly instituted. While issuing her ruling, Justice Vincent Zehurikize which was delivered by the civil division court registrar, Eudes Keitirima said, “I do not find any basis for an order prohibiting the establishment of any investigations or inquiry into specific cases dug out by the audit committee. In the same vein, the prayers to quash the report and a declaration that it be expunged from the records of the LDC are rejected,” Zehurikize ruled.

The ruling was delivered in the presence of the duo’s lawyer Jotham Mugarura, and LDC lawyer Ateenyi Tibaijuka. Mabikke was present though Mbidde (East African Legislative Assembly MP) was absent. However, the judge agreed to disqualify the inquiry committee led by the retired judge Augustine Kania, saying that it was not properly constituted in accordance with Section 16 of the LDC Act.

Following reports of examination malpractice at LDC, a forensic audit probe committee was set up to investigate purported illegalities committed between 2004 and 2011 and Mbidde and Mabikke was among the 15 former students whose papers were scrutinized.