The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has issued a statement explaining the modalities of verifying academic qualifications for those intending to contest in the 2021 General Elections.

In its statement, UNEB clarified the categories of aspirants that need to have their documents verified.

These include people that may have lost their certificates, who are required to use UNEB’s online system to submit an application for Letters of Verification.

Aspirants who wish to equate qualifications obtained from Uganda or outside Uganda to the level of Advanced Certificate are required to submit an application to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

The examination body also clarified that aspirants who obtained the UACE or higher qualification from Uganda do not need to have their documents verified.

“…aspiring candidates who have their original Advanced Level Certificates need not verify with UNEB.” the statement read in part.

In the same vein, aspirants who attained such qualifications from the former University of East Africa, or any of its constituent colleges do not need to verify their qualifications with NCHE.

The law on the qualification of political aspirants stipulates minimum academic credentials that must be possessed by aspirants for different political offices.

Members of parliament, for example, must have attained a minimum formal education of Advanced Level (UACE) or its equivalent, according to Section 4 (1) (c) of the Parliamentary Elections Act 2005.

The same law requires aspirants to establish their qualifications with the electoral commission ‘at least two months before nomination day, in the case of a general election, and two weeks in the case of a by-election’.