KAMPALA, Uganda – The political saga in Kioga County has taken a dramatic and ironic turn, as independent parliamentary candidate Rtd. Col. Dr. John Francis Ongia, who has relentlessly challenged his rival’s academic credentials, now finds himself fighting to salvage his own political career over what the ruling party calls “chronologically impossible” discrepancies in his educational documents.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has filed a formal petition with the Electoral Commission seeking the immediate disqualification of Col. Ongia, following a investigation that uncovered glaring inconsistencies in his O-Level and A-Level certificates.
The “Impossible” Discrepancy
According to the NRM’s petition, a certified copy of Ongia’s O-Level certificate indicates he sat for the examination in 2002 at the age of 38. However, his A-Level certificate states he sat for the exam in 2004 at the age of 30.
This creates a baffling chronological paradox where the aspirant appears to have been eight years younger in 2004 than he was in 2002—a physical impossibility that forms the crux of the NRM’s case.
“The documents presented cannot both be true,” a source within the NRM legal team stated. “This is a clear case of forgery and misrepresentation to the Electoral Commission.”
A Pot Calling the Kettle Black?
The development is steeped in political irony. Col. Ongia, after losing the NRM party flag bearer primaries to Mr. Adupa Ongwech Felix, first challenged Adupa’s qualifications before the NRM Electoral Tribunal. His case was dismissed, and Adupa was upheld as the legitimate candidate.
Undeterred, after the general nomination, Ongia, now running as an independent, again ran to the Electoral Commission to challenge Adupa’s nomination, alleging he lacked the minimum qualifications to contest.
Now, with the tables turned, voters in Kioga County are expressing mixed reactions, with many viewing the latest scandal as poetic justice.
Voters Speak: “A Self-Seeker Getting His Due”
When asked for their thoughts, several constituents voiced their frustration with Ongia’s tactics.
· Ocen Robert, a local vendor: “This man has been disturbing the peace. He should have waited for the general election and let the people decide, not run to court every other day. Now look, the very thing he was accusing others of has come to his doorstep. It shows he is not honest.”
· Atoo Jane, a teacher: “It is very disappointing. We expect our leaders to be men and women of integrity. How can you lead us when your own papers are questionable? He was busy chasing Adupa’s shadow, yet Adupa has qualified documents. This is the meaning of the proverb: what goes around, comes around.”
· Okot Patrick, a boda boda rider: “For me, this is politics of self-interest. Ongia is a self-seeker. Instead of focusing on his campaign and telling us what he will do for Kioga, he has been focused on pulling his opponent down. Now the trap he set for another has caught him.”
Ongia’s Defense: “UNEWill Clarify”
When confronted for a comment on the damning allegations against his academic documents, Col. Dr. John Francis Ongia remained defiant but offered little clarity.
“The issues about my documents are well known, and I have already made my submission to the Electoral Commission,” he stated. “The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) will be the one to clarify this matter.”
His response, however, does little to address the specific mathematical impossibility highlighted in the NRM’s petition.
With a high-powered NRM legal team led by lawyer Edwin Karugire pushing for his disqualification, and sources indicating that even his PhD is now under scrutiny, Col. Ongia’s political future hangs in the balance. The outcome of this case will not only determine the fate of his candidacy but also serve as a stark lesson in the high-stakes game of political credibility.
