EXCLUSIVE: Makerere Staff Sack University Council Members, Ask Minister Janet Museveni To Take Over

  • by Steven Mwesigye
  • August 17, 2018

MUASA chairman Deus Kamunyu

Makerere lecturers under their umbrella body – Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) have written to the minister of Education and sports, Hon. Janet Museveni to disband the Makerere university council.

MUASA accuses the University council of failure to perform its duties as the supreme governing body of the university per the terms and mission.

The Council is the University Council is the supreme governing body of the university and is currently chaired by Dr. Eng. Charles Wana-Etyem.

In the letter signed by the chairman of the Association Dr. Kamunyu Muhwezi and the assembly’s General Secretary Dr. Michael Walimbwa, the staff further accuse the council of having lost a sense of direction.

“Members observed with great concern the persistence decline in the overall performance of the University council in playing their oversight role. Particularly, the decline is observed by constant interference with the employment system by appointments board which is threatening stability in the University,” a leaked document reads in part.

The body adds that there is declining student enrollment as a result of poor decision making, financial mismanagement and poor caliber of members of council not befitting Makerere University.

The document seen by theUandan contains resolutions and commendations agreed upon on by members in meetings held 3rd and 10th August.

It is one this basis, among other reasons that MUASA wants the intervention the education minister and sports who is also the First Lady to sack the council.

Members respond

When contacted, Hon Thomas Tayebwa, a member of the council said the recomendtions by MUASA “is a clear example of indiscipline we have been talking about.”

“I am told the MUASA Chairperson Who has personal differences with some members of Council called a few people whom he sat with to make such an unfortunate decision. We have over 1400 academic staff, ask him to give you the attendance list of those who participated in his General Assembly,” said Mr Tayebwa.

He added: “You will be shocked to learn they were not over 50. MUK Council is made up of over 60% Makerere staff, if they’re dissatisfied with their performance why don’t they recall them then we know they’re indeed tired of Council? I think this is impunity which any sane person must condemn and even bring such perpetrators to book,” said Tayebwa.

However Bruce Balaba the Chairman Appointments Committee was not available for a comment.