MUK College Principals: Kagonyera Succumbs to Pressure

Prof Mondo Kagonyera the Makerere Chancellor

Professor Mondo Kagonyera, the Makerere University chancellor has succumbed to pressure from lecturers and finally appointed substantives college principals and their deputies. Last week, a group of lecturers led by Dr. Tanga Odoi, the former chairperson Makerere University Academic Staff Association threatened to resort to legal action to compel Kagonyerato to appoint the college principals. It came after Kagonyera granted our reporter an interview in which he said he had suspended the process over transparency concerns.

Kagonyera said that he had communicated to the university council his concerns. However, on Friday, Ritah Namissango, the Makerere University public relations officer issued a list of the new college principals and their deputies. They include Prof Edward Kirumira, Dr. Gorette Nabanoga, Dr. Frederick Masagaazi Masaazi, Dr. Anthony Muwanga Mugaga, Dr. Jessica Nakavuma Lukanga, Prof Joseph Y.T Mugisha, Dr. John Magero Mango and Dr. Henry Alinaitwe. However, the names of three other professors who were approved for appointment are pending.

They are professors David Kabasa, Bernard Bashasha and Abasi Kiyimba. Professor John. B. Nyakaana, a representative on the Makerere University Academic Staff Association to the university council wonders why the professors have not been appointed yet they successfully went through the same search process.

He says the decision by the chancellor to demand for a report on why the trio was approved for appointment is not backed by any law.

Early this year, Makerere University established a search committee chaired by Professor Mnson Tweheyo to interview candidates for appointment as college principals. The candidates were subjected to oral and written interviews, which were concluded with elections. The names of the successful candidates were submitted to the senate chaired by Professor John Ssentamu Ddumba, the Makerere University vice chancellor for further scrutiny. The names were later sent to the university council chaired by Dr. Eng. Charles Wana Etyem, which selected 11 candidates on April 14th for appointment as college principals and deputy principals.