Makerere withholds MUBS transcripts

Mar 04, 2007

MAKERERE University Senate has decided not to issue transcripts to 236 MUBS students, saying they graduated under an ‘irregular arrangement.’

By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

MAKERERE University Senate has decided not to issue transcripts to 236 MUBS students, saying they graduated under an ‘irregular arrangement.’

The Senate, the top academic decision-making organ, evoked its autonomous powers during an emergency meeting held on February 28.

All the 14 deans and directors unanimously agreed that the prime minister’s directive to allow Makerere University Business School (MUBS) students to graduate was ‘illegal and unacceptable,’ a member of the Senate said.

The senate resolved that its examinations committee would have to review the results of the students before a decision to issue transcripts is made.

Vice-chancellor Livingstone Luboobi confirmed the development but argued that it was meant to protect and defend the name and quality of the university.

“The university must stick to principles. The Senate sat and considered the matter. The members decided that a committee would look at the results before issuing the Makerere University’s transcripts,” he said yesterday.

He added, “In future, we do not want to take responsibility for issuing transcripts to wrong people.”

Luboobi further said the Senate as an independent organ was not trying to frustrate MUBS.

“If we let it pass, then we run into the danger of the system getting abused by individuals. All faculties and schools of the university know that the results of students who are to graduate must be submitted one month before graduation. This is to give enough time to the Senate to look at the results,” he explained.

Luboobi said the Senate’s position had been communicated to the Chancellor, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, the minister of education, Namirembe Bitamazire, as well as the Visitor, President Yoweri Museveni.

A source said the Senate passed a resolution saying that as an autonomous organ, ‘nobody should interfere with its academic decision-making process.’

“The chancellor’s directive was illegal and can be challenged even in court. He has no powers to do that,” the source added.

The source said the decision by the senate was triggered off by a decision by MUBS to include Alex Atuhaire, who is engaged in a court battle with Makerere University over his dismissal.

The row degenerated further when some members of the Senate said MUBS results would be subjected to a ‘thorough checking.’

“The Senate cannot be given orders, especially on academic matters. Not even the university council, the supreme organ, can give a directive to the Senate. That is undermining the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act.”

An ad hoc committee, chaired by the dean of the faculty of Computing and IT, in its report recommended that the Senate examinations committee should be given enough time to consider all results.

“The results sent by different faculties and schools may not necessary be final. They are still subject to review by the committee. This was not the case with MUBS students,” the source stated.

On February 20, Nsibambi ordered Makerere to allow MUBS students graduate although the Senate had protested that their results had been submitted just a week to the February 23 graduation ceremony.

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