Makerere University Recalls Degrees Awarded Since 2007

A crisis is looming in the legal profession after Makerere University announced plans to revoke degrees awarded since 2007.

The Ugandan institution explained that many of the degrees had been illegally awarded and others had been forged.

Majority of the Kenyan graduates from the University are presently working as Advocates of the High Court as well as Magistrates deciding cases.

When the institution enacts the threat, the lawyers, judges and many others working in private and public sectors will be affected.

"The chaos in the legal profession will have ripple effects. It means Kenya School of Law will recall diplomas awarded while the Law Society of Kenya will expunge many from the roll of advocates," a lawyer explained.

In addition, all cases tried by affected lawyers and judges will be restarted if their degrees are taken away and students pursuing postgraduate studies will have to cancel them.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) had earlier on this year proposed to bar students from the East African region, especially Uganda, from being admitted to the bar in Kenya. 

The High Court in Kenya, however, quashed the proposal despite errors pointed out by the CLE Chief Executive, Prof. Wanyonyi Kulundu-Bitonye.

 

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