KAMPALA, Uganda — A controversy is brewing within Uganda’s political sphere after two high-ranking police officials received honorary doctorate degrees from a theological college with a debated reputation.
Deputy Inspector General of Police James Ocaya and Commissioner of Police Micheal Mugabi were awarded Honorary Doctorates of Humanity on Friday by Zoe Life Theological College, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Lagos, Nigeria.
The Uganda Police Force announced the honors on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating the degrees recognized Ocaya and Mugabi’s “exemplary service to Uganda.” Ocaya became Deputy Inspector General in May 2024 during a police leadership reshuffle by President Yoweri Museveni. Mugabi is a senior police official. The awards come amid Uganda’s history of controversial policing.
However, the announcement drew immediate skepticism online, with many questioning Zoe Life Theological College’s legitimacy, some calling it a “diploma mill.”
Reports indicate Zoe Life Theological College claims accreditation, but its practices have faced scrutiny. South African authorities earlier this year noted similar institutions, like Trinity International Bible University, for awarding unauthorized degrees.
Many expressed concern about potential misuse of taxpayer funds for what they termed “commodified degrees.” The situation also raised questions about the legitimacy of honorary degrees and institutional accountability.
Dr. Kenneth Omona Olusegun, Uganda’s Minister of State For Northern Uganda Rehabilitation, strongly criticized the awards on X. He urged Zoe Life Theological College to focus on meaningful spiritual education instead of a “PhD bonanza.”
“Zoe Life Theological College is back in town with PhD bonanza. Please Zoe, teach Africans useful, productive & progressive spiritual life, not PhD freebies. We have enough conmen and scammers. Why don’t you award Donald Trump and Elon Musk also in your America there?” Omona wrote.
He suggested the college was undermining Africa’s intellectual credibility. “It’s meant to bastardize our scientific & research environment, so we appear out there as fake intellectual market yet we in Africa are a Marvel. Let’s add Zoe to the name of all the recipients of this scam, whoever uses the tittle phD,” Omona stated.
Journalist Arinaitwe Rugyendo echoed Omona’s concerns, saying the practice devalues legitimate doctoral work in Africa. “Dr. Omona, you are shaking tables with expensive drinks. That said, this is calculated to make the rigorous doctoral journey in Africa not worth the effort. A drawback for those in the thick of it and the ones who have travelled it. Our leaders should never be part of this!” Rugyendo wrote.
Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo expressed disappointment that a theological institution was involved in such practices.
Dr. Sam Kazibwe supported Omona’s critique, calling his statement “well put.”
David Birungi, PR Manager for Airtel Uganda, criticized the Ugandan recipients. “The problem is actually those Ugandans in those gowns. Not Trump, not Zoe, not Elon. I also understand why you wouldn’t make them the subject of discussion. They have no respect for the knowledge factory,” Birungi commented.
An X user, AI Mukama, called for Zoe to be “stopped at all costs.”
Daniel Kawuma, a pharmacist and human rights activist, criticized the Uganda Police Force for promoting “questionable or potentially fraudulent content.” He noted online concerns about Zoe Life Theological College. “We hope that taxpayer money has not been misused to support these commodified degrees, which are often marketed in developing countries,” Kawuma wrote.
Charles T. Baraka accused the Uganda police leadership of taking shortcuts. “Please be serious, have some shame. It takes so much effort & service to deserve a degree, academic or honorary. Please stop this Ugandan business of taking shortcuts & influence peddling to get titles,” he wrote.
Another X user, Daudi Mpiima, said it was “embarrassing” that the police were congratulating instead of investigating the institution.
ByonanebyeMD, identifying as a medicine and politics enthusiast, stated that addressing those with honorary PhDs as “Dr.” is against the law. “You are breaking the law. People awarded honorary PhDs must never be addressed as Dr. Besides, the so-called theological college is very well known for awarding PhDs on anything to anyone,” the user wrote.
Samson Kasumba, a PhD candidate in theology, highlighted the rigorous nature of earning a legitimate theology doctorate, contrasting it with Zoe Life Theological College’s practices. “As someone who is writing a PhD proposal for a New Testament project believe me a PhD is theology is not as easy as many people think. It does involve work in Biblical Greek, Hebrew, Latin, German and hermeneutics. Sometimes you may even struggle to find supervision. We have become scam international center!” Kasumba wrote.
Julius Mucunguzi, spokesperson for Uganda’s Electoral Commission, shared his experience of being offered a PhD for $3000 without academic requirements. “Ndugu, the table you are shaking has expensive drinks on it..some group in Dubai write to me suggesting that they can award me a PhD at a cost of $3000!!, with no classes at all,” Mucunguzi said.
Sheila Akandwanaho criticized Zoe Life Theological College for “bastardizing” scholarship. “The bastardizing of scholars continues! Am sure all have updated their titled ‘drs’ the joke here is resounding,” she wrote.
Experts have urged that the actions of Zoe Life Theological College and the acceptance of these honorary degrees by prominent figures undermine the integrity of academic pursuits and potentially erode public trust in leadership.
