Suspended Makerere lecturers urge to intervene as crisis stays

By George Mangula

Parliament could investigate Makerere University crisis in which the University staff are at loggerheads with top management led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe who suspended leaders of the university’s staff associations.

The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga made the pledge while responding to a petition presented to her by the suspended leaders of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA).

In the petition, MUASA leaders led the suspended Chairperson, Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi asked Kadaga to investigate issues related to mismanagement of public universities in the country especially Makerere university.

Sam Lyomoki, the Workers Representative, who accompanied the MUASA team said that the suspension of Makerere university staff by the Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe was unconstitutional and would affect students greatly.

Dr.Isaac Wanzige Magoola, General Secretary of the University Professional Academic Staff Union said that as much as focus has been put on Makerere, there is need for Parliament to probe into the running of the affairs in public universities, arguing that what is going on in the public universities is worse than the rot Bank of Uganda.

“There is victimization through illegal suspensions and dismissals. In some cases, you find people in perpetual acting capacities, people acting for four years and use of short term contracts where you find people given contracts of six months perpetually and other illegal appointments where you find people appointed illegally which don’t follow standards or procedure, adamant denial of vibrant associations to do their work,” Magoola said.

He further called on Parliament to intervene in the Makerere fiasco and first reinstate all leaders that have illegally been suspended.

“In some cases, people are denied entry. We think, this has reached the pinnacle at Makerere University that is why it is attracting national attention but it is everywhere where you find the Council is there, but it is using arbitrary committees set outside the structures to victimise people and because of this, the rot has reached the top, action must be taken,” he said.

In response to the petition, Kadaga requested the petitioners to furnish her with a copy of the report by the late Abed Rwendeire Visitation Committee and find out the gaps before an investigation is conducted.

“Of course I regret that so much is going on at the prestigious University, all of us are alumni to that University and it is a matter of concern but certainly, we are going to look into the issue and of course you will be invited for public hearing so that the Committee will hear from you,” the Speaker said.

Meanwhile lecturers from the Department of Public and Comparative Law have asked the Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe to lift the suspension arguing that the move infringes on the freedom of association and academic freedom which are provided for in the Constitution of Uganda.

On December 21, 2018, Nawangwe suspended MASA Chairperson Bennet Magara and the association’s Secretary Joseph Kalema after the two individuals wrote to the University Secretary asking that the university’s management should not meddle in the affairs of the associations there.  These were also suspended on alleged incitement of staff against Nawangwe and his allies. The two are employees in the Directorate of Internal Audit and Directorate of Human Resources respectively.

Nawangwe would further also suspend Dr. Deus M. Kamunyu, the MUASA Chairperson who is a lecturer in the Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism.

“We wish to state that every Ugandan has a constitutional right of freedom of speech, and expression and freedom of association,” they argue in the letter dated January 25, 2019. The freedoms, the lecturers say include freedom to form and join associations, or unions, such as trade unions, political parties and other civic organisations as expressed in the constitution.

They also refer to sections 68 and 93 of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 which recognises the right of staff to form associations. They say Section 93 states that: “There shall be an academic staff association whose aims shall be to promote the academic and welfare interests of the academic staff.”