Kampala — Harvard University, one of the elitist institutions in the world, has warned Ugandans against giving local schools the US-based university's name.

A statement from the university claims that some education institutions and people in Uganda are using their esteemed trademark illegally.

"It has come to our client's attention that several persons/institutions in Uganda have started using and they are labelling their education institutions as Harvard College School Kamwokya, and Harvard College among others, in connection with educational institutions," a statement from the Counsel for Harvard University reads in part.

Daily Monitor has established that there are three institutions in the country using the 'Harvard' trademark - Harvard College School in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb; Harvard College Hoima, and Harvard High in Idudi sub-county, Iganga District.

But Harvard University has distanced itself from the schools, saying they are not in anyway affiliated to them. Instead, the university has threatened to sue any person and institution using its trademark without authorisation.

"The unauthorised use of the said mark in whatever form, and most importantly in education institutions, infringes our client's trademark and is unlawful," the statement reads.

The penalty in such criminal proceedings is imprisonment for a term of up to two years.

Mathias V. Sekatawa, a counsel for Harvard University, said there have been various agents in Uganda claiming to be Harvard agents. "My client has not authorised any person, or any institution to register students for Harvard University. So whoever does so is doing it illegally," Mr Sekatawa said on Tuesday.

In 2006, many Ugandan students failed to graduate with an Australian University. They had been deceived under similar circumstances that they were registered and were to obtain degree certificates from Australia by their Ugandan institution. The students had paid tuition and sat exams in belief that the exams were part of the said university.

Mr Sekatawa said they have already notified the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr Francis Lubanga.

"The Permanent Secretary has set a deadline for those schools to comply. If they don't, they will be deregistered by Uganda National Examinations Board and the ministry," he said.

But authorities at Harvard College Kamwokya expressed ignorance about the warning, saying that they had not received any communication.