The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Uganda has been temporarily blocked from investigating Team University over a degree awarded to Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.
According to the Monitor Newspaper in Uganda, the High Court in Uganda halted the probe after Team University moved seeking orders to bar any investigations over the degree saga.
The Civil Division of the High Court issued the provisional order against NCHE and also barred NCHE from relying on the probe for a decision until the determination of another application which is slated for July 14.
Documents provided in the Ugandan court indicated that Sakaja studied at Team University from 2012 to 2016.
The court was told that Sakaja pursued a Bachelor of Science in Management degree, which was conducted through a distance learning programme.
The university is also contesting the process used to carry out the investigation, the directive to give Prof. Ntarangwi access to the student's personal information, and the decision to exclude the university lawyers from the investigation.
Team University claims that the regulator (NCHE), after previously saying that the university is licensed, went on to launch new investigations.
This comes on the backdrop of an ongoing investigation mandated by Martin Okoth Ochola, the Inspector General of Police in Uganda.
According to reports, NCHE in Uganda advised the Commission for University Education (CUE) in Kenya that its investigation into Sakaja's degree's validity had been halted but the police chief had the authority to probe the university.
“NCHE commenced investigations in order to determine the authenticity of the Bachelor of Science in Management (External) degree awarded to Sakaja Johnson by Team University.
"However, prior to completion of our investigation, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) has commenced investigations into the same matter, hence superseding our action,” the letter from NCHE read.
“The purpose of this letter is, therefore, to inform you of the above development and to advise that a final position will be availed once the investigation by the IG is concluded.”
Sakaja's degree recognition was officially annulled by CUE on Thursday, June 30. The Commission claimed in a letter to the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, that Team University and Sakaja failed to provide the essential proof that led to its judgment.
