Officials from the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are under investigation for allegedly scamming Ugandan students in an Iran scholarship program.
On February 5, the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda, Majid Saffar, sent off 69 students and ONC staff to pursue various programs at Ahlul-Bayt International University in Tehran.
These 69 were supposed to join eight students who had travelled earlier.
Before departing, the students received a briefing from the Iranian envoy and ONC head, Hajat Hadijah Namyalo, at the ONC offices in Kyambogo.
The scholarship opportunities, advertised on October 13, 2023, by ONC through a letter signed by Moses Kintu, the then assistant communications officer, attracted many applicants.
A total of 120 finalists were shortlisted, but contrary to claims that the scholarships were free, each student was allegedly required to pay $950 (about UGX 3.5 million) for visa and flight costs.
One student, who requested anonymity, reported that upon arrival in Iran, they discovered some advertised courses were not available and that medical insurance was not provided.
“The most upsetting part was that they advertised ICT (information and communication technology), which I wanted to study after doing art subjects at A’level. I came to Iran expecting to pursue ICT because it’s highly relevant in Uganda,” the student said.
Many students unable to switch courses have returned to Uganda, with some filing police reports and others petitioning President Yoweri Museveni for a refund.
In a letter dated June 23, 2024, students in Iran asked the President to intervene, citing numerous challenges at Ahlul-Bayt International University.
They complained about the unclear medical insurance policy, which covers only minor illnesses and requires students to pay medical bills upfront, with a promise of a 60% reimbursement.
The students also alleged that Ester Nankinga, an ONC staff member, travelled to Iran last month, posing as a Ugandan government official, and requested their original academic documents from the university without their knowledge or consent.
“We don’t know her intentions, and we ask that she be compelled to return our documents promptly,” the students stated.
Responding to the allegations on Tuesday, Namyalo addressed journalists in Kyambogo, denying any involvement with the students.
“Anyone with evidence that I received money from anyone should present it, and whoever took money from any applicant should be held accountable,” Namyalo said.
She acknowledged that ONC had facilitated the scholarship opportunity through the Iranian Embassy and had met with the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda and the embassy’s cultural affairs attaché regarding the program.
