Kampala — A Member of Parliament has been expelled from a university over examination malpractice.

Mr Barnabas Tinkasiimire, an NRM MP for Buyaga County in Kibaale, was on Monday discontinued by the Islamic University in Uganda for allegedly smuggling written material into a second semester law examination on torts in May.

Mr Tinkasiimire, who was in the second year of his law degree course at the university's Kampala campus, yesterday confirmed knowledge of the matter but said he had not been officially notified.

"I passed the paper and I will continue with my studies because I have not been officially told to go away," said Mr Tinkasiimire, who also claimed that the matter was being propagated by his political rivals.

The university on Monday displayed the notice on a board at the campus communicating the MP's dismissal. Another student, Kadhil Katende, was also dismissed for cheating.

Over 80 other students were also dismissed for various reasons including poor academic performance and absconding from class.

The notice read: "The executive board of the university that sat in Mbale on the November 5, recommended for the discontinuation of Mr Barnabas Tinkasiimire registration number 208-023072-00909 and Kadhil Katende, a first year student of Social Works and Social Sciences with immediate effect."

Mr Tinkasiimire last evening admitted being caught with written material in an examination room but denies he intended to use it to cheat.

"Even myself, I was surprised when I saw the chit dropping from my jacket. I only picked it because it was in my handwriting but the examiner had seen me. I didn't want to cheat," said the MP, who told Daily Monitor that he hopes the decision will be rescinded.

"I met with the vice rector, but he told me to come back on Monday because he could not see my letter," the MP said.

"I am coming from the university's main campus in Mbale to get particular details of my case. I am told to see the rector on Monday over the matter. I am told that my name will be put off the list if I am cleared," Mr Tinkasiimire said last evening.

But Mr Hussein Kaye, the university's public relations officer, said: "The law is clear. The moment the student is caught in examination malpractice, he or she is dismissed outright."

Mr Tinkasiimire holds a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University and a Masters in Public Administration and Management from the same institution. Several MPs returned to Law School considering the importance of legal knowledge in legislation.