KAMPALA, UGANDA – August 6, 2025– A dramatic twist has unfolded at the NRM tribunal after the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) exposed a forged academic record submitted against Felix Adupa Ongwech by petitioners from Ongia. This revelation starkly contradicts earlier claims and vindicates the original documents presented by Ongwech and his counsel, Joseph Angole.
The Key Developments:
1. Ongwech Presented Originals: Lead Counsel Joseph Angole robustly defended Felix Adupa Ongwech before the tribunal, presenting what UNEB now implicitly confirms were authentic original academic documents belonging to his client.
2. Petitioners Submitted Forged Evidence: Teams acting for the Ongia petitioners attempted to discredit Ongwech by submitting a purported UNEB result slip for verification. Crucially, they used the WRONG index number (U0336/524) for the 2010 UACE exams.
3. UNEB Exposes Forgery: UNEB’s official response (Ref: EA/GEN/41, July 31st, 2025) dismantles the petitioners’ case:
Index Number Invalid for Ongwech: Verification of the index number U0336/524 – supplied by the petitioners– proves it does not belong to Felix Adupa Ongwech.
True Candidate Named: UNEB states unequivocally: “Names Differ: True candidate is Samyu Celement”.
Forgery Confirmed: By submitting a document linking Ongwech to index U0336/524, the Ongia petitioners presented material UNEB confirms is falsified.
Board’s Stance: UNEB reiterated: “The Board is not responsible for the identity of the candidate,” placing the blame for the forged submission squarely on those who presented it.
How the Scandal Unfolded:
Petitioners from Ongia requested UNEB verification using index number U0336/524, claiming it belonged to Felix Adupa Ongwech.
UNEB’s records proved this claim was false, exposing the document submitted by the petitionersas forged.
This directly contradicts any insinuation by the petitioners against Ongwech’s academic credentials based on their own fabricated evidence.
Meanwhile, the original documents presented by Joseph Angole on behalf of Felix Adupa Ongwech remain unchallenged by UNEB’s response.
Implications:
Vindication for Ongwech:The UNEB letter fatally undermines the petitioners’ attempts to question Felix Adupa Ongwech’s academic record using demonstrably fake evidence.
Serious Allegations Against Petitioners: The act of submitting forged academic documents to a tribunal and a national examinations board constitutes potential perjury and fraud. Calls for investigation into the Ongia petitioners’ conduct are likely.
Angole’s Defense Upheld: Lead Counsel Joseph Angole’s defense of his client’s original documents is strongly validated. The forged material originated from the opposing side.
Tribunal Must Act: The NRM tribunal faces pressure to dismiss the petitioners’ tainted evidence and potentially sanction those responsible for the forgery.
Reactions:
Joseph Angole stated: “This UNEB letter proves exactly what we asserted: our client presented genuine documents. The petitioners, in their desperation, resorted to forging evidence using a wrong index number. This is a serious criminal act that must be prosecuted.”
Representatives for the Ongia petitioners have yet to comment on the exposure of the forged document submitted under their name.
The UNEB verification, initiated by the petitioners themselves using an incorrect index, has backfired spectacularly, exposing a brazen attempt to mislead the tribunal and smear Felix Adupa Ongwech with fabricated evidence.
