Opiyo said he had been reviewing an official document in which the minister signed off as “Dr. Nankabirwa,” a designation he claims is inaccurate.
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Senior lawyer and human rights advocate Nicholas Opiyo has publicly faulted Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu for using the title “Doctor,” arguing that the minister has not earned a PhD.
The criticism came through Opiyo’s official account on the social media platform Twitter, where he raised concerns about what he described as a growing trend among public officials in Uganda to adopt academic titles they have not formally earned.
Opiyo said he had been reviewing an official document in which the minister signed off as “Dr. Nankabirwa,” a designation he claims is inaccurate.
“Why do so many holders of public office and public figures in Uganda clamor for titles they have not dutifully earned?” Opiyo asked in his post.
According to him, the minister’s publicly known academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts obtained through mature entry and a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Management. He stated that there is no record indicating she holds a doctorate.
Opiyo further argued that using the title without having earned a PhD contravenes guidelines set by the National Council for Higher Education on the use of academic and honorary titles.
“This misrepresentation is a breach of the council’s guidelines and undermines any good work one may have done or is doing as a public officer,” Opiyo wrote.
He added that such actions diminish the value of academic achievement and make “a mockery of those who have toiled hard, studied, and earned the title PhD.”
The lawyer also questioned the motivation behind adopting unearned titles, asking what inadequacy public figures might be trying to mask by doing so.
Opiyo concluded by urging public officials, including the minister, to be transparent about their academic qualifications and to adhere to the guidelines set by the National Council for Higher Education regarding the use of academic titles.
