The Minister of State for Sports, Hon.Peter Ogwang has revealed that 80 students at Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals in Iganga District were not suspended or expelled after forged bank payment slips were discovered.
According to the institute’s management, the students had allegedly entrusted their fees to an individual who offered to make payments on their behalf but instead issued forged slips showing amounts higher than those actually paid.
Presenting a ministerial statement on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 following concerns raised in the House about students who had been sent away from the school, Ogwang said the institute maintained that the affected students were not been expelled or suspended. He added that arrangements have been made for the affected students to clear the outstanding fees and resume their studies.
The minister said parents facing financial hardships have been allowed to pay the outstanding amounts in instalments while the students continued with their studies.
According to the minister, of the 80 students identified, 15 had already completed their courses, while 55 were continuing students.
At the time of the institute’s report, nine of the continuing students had cleared their fees and resumed their studies, while the remaining students were in the process of settling their balances under the agreed arrangements.
Ogwang said the institute has indicated that affected students can return, receive counselling and resume their studies once the agreed arrangements have been met, adding that no fixed date has been imposed for their return.
The issue came to light in June 2025 when the institute discovered that fees it had receipted did not match the amounts credited to its official account with Stanbic Bank.
“On verification, the Bank confirmed that some of the payment slips presented by students were forged,” Ogwang said.
He said the institute subsequently, examined payment slips presented between January 2025 and June 2026, identifying 80 affected students.
Ogwang added that the case was reported to the police on 9 September 2026 after discussions by its management and Board of Governors.
“Meetings involving the institute, affected students, parents and police were held on 11 September and 01 October to discuss how the payments had been made and agree on arrangements for settling the outstanding fees,” he said.
Ogwang told Parliament that two principal suspects were arrested on 7 October and arraigned in court on charges relating to forgery, uttering forged documents and impersonation.
He declined to comment further on the ongoing proceedings, saying decisions on prosecution and formal arrangements for witnesses rested with the investigating and prosecuting authorities.
The minister said the Ministry of Education and Sports will continue engaging the institute to ensure the agreed arrangements were applied fairly and that continuing students are enabled to resume their studies.
“This case engages two principles that must be held in balance; the right of every student to an education and the duty of accountability, integrity and compliance with the regulations of our institutions,” he said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.