Mbale, Uganda – At the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), a quiet academic institution known for its disciplined learning environment and rising female leadership, a storm is brewing—one that threatens not only the credibility of its academic records but also the legacy of one of its most respected administrators.
Dr. Halima Wakabi Akbar, the university’s Academic Registrar and a trailblazer as the first woman to ever hold the role at IUIU, is now at the center of a swirling scandal involving the alleged issuance of fake degrees.
The matter, according to inside sources, traces back to a graduation held nearly two years ago—an event that now stands stained by accusations of irregularities and administrative failure.
Whispers of the scandal began quietly but soon grew into a full-fledged internal investigation when university management discovered that at least two individuals had appeared on the graduation list despite not meeting academic requirements.
“This is not a minor clerical error,” a university insider noted, requesting anonymity. “The Academic Registrar is on the spot for issuing fake degrees to some people.
The scandal so far involves two individuals, one of whom is now a government official serving in Mbale.”
Though this website has not been able to independently verify the identities of the alleged beneficiaries, the implication is severe enough to have shaken the institution’s leadership to its core.
Speaking to URN, Rehema Katono, the university’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the university’s rector immediately took action by constituting an Academic Affairs Committee to probe the allegations.
“The committee’s findings pointed to Dr. Halima’s involvement, and one of the recommendations was that she vacates the office,” Katono said.
“A letter to that effect has already been issued by the rector, but a final decision awaits the executive board meeting scheduled for Thursday.”
In a bid to stabilize operations, the university temporarily reassigned Dr. Halima to the Institutional Planning Department.
However, this redeployment is pending formal approval from the Appointments Committee, which has yet to convene.
“There are still many moving parts,” Katono added. “Most of the issues will be clarified after the management and executive board meetings. A formal statement will be issued afterward.”
Legacy at a Crossroads
Dr. Halima Wakabi Akbar is not just any university administrator. Before taking over as Academic Registrar, she served as Director of the IUIU Female Campus in Kabojja from 2009, where she was widely credited with spearheading key academic reforms and strengthening services for female students.
Her rise through the ranks has inspired many within academic circles, especially among women in higher education.
It’s perhaps for this reason that some university staff members have hesitated to accept the allegations at face value.
Several voices—albeit off the record—have suggested the scandal could be a smokescreen for an internal power struggle.
“There are definitely questions to be asked about the timing and the handling of the accusations,” said one staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“It’s important that she gets a fair hearing. This might be more than just a matter of degrees.”
Awaiting Accountability
URN’s attempts to reach Dr. Halima for comment were unsuccessful.
Calls to her phone went unanswered, and follow-up messages were not returned. One of the alleged degree recipients initially agreed to an interview but later failed to appear.
Meanwhile, the university has remained tight-lipped on whether the degrees in question will be revoked.
Katono clarified that no decision would be taken until all involved parties have had an opportunity to present their side.
“These individuals are entitled to a fair hearing before any conclusive action is taken,” she said.
IUIU’s troubles echo a broader crisis in Uganda’s higher education system. Degree fraud has periodically plagued institutions across the country, exposing systemic weaknesses and lapses in academic integrity.
In 2015, Makerere University found itself embroiled in a scandal after over 600 students were suspected of graduating with altered exam results.
Kyambogo University followed in 2022, when digital tampering with student records nearly allowed unqualified students to graduate—until vigilant department heads caught the inconsistencies.
For students and employers alike, the credibility of academic credentials is a non-negotiable foundation.
With universities under pressure to expand, grow, and compete globally, lapses like these risk undermining decades of progress.
As IUIU’s executive board prepares to meet this week, the university community waits anxiously for clarity. Whether Dr. Halima Wakabi Akbar will emerge vindicated or replaced remains to be seen.
But what is certain is that this scandal has opened an uncomfortable conversation about transparency, accountability, and integrity within Uganda’s universities.
For now, the story of IUIU’s Academic Registrar serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to reform—a reminder that even the most respected institutions must remain vigilant in upholding the values they represent.
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