Tibatemwa takes MUK second top job

Aug 25, 2012

Prof. Lilian Tibatemwa-Ekilikubinza has again emerged the winner for the Makerere University first deputy vice-chancellor’s job after serving in the same position for about eight years.

By Francis Kagolo   

Prof. Lilian Tibatemwa-Ekilikubinza has again emerged the winner for the Makerere University first deputy vice-chancellor’s job after serving in the same position for about eight years.

Tibatemwa, a professor of law who came to the limelight when she was voted to deputise Prof. Livingstone Luboobi in 2004, will again be in charge of academic affairs at Uganda’s oldest university.     
     
Senate, the university’s chief academic organ, declared Tibatemwa winner after beating her closest rival, Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, by 45 to 15 votes on Friday.

The race had attracted two other candidates; Prof. Peter Baguma and Prof. Abasi Kiyimba.
 
University spokesperson Ritah namisango said in a statement that the Senate then recommended Tibatemwa to the University Council for approval before she is appointed by the chancellor, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera.

Vice-chancellors of public universities and their deputies hold offices for a period of five years and are eligible for re-appointment for one more term.

Tibatemwa’s first term ended in 2009. She has since been serving in acting capacity with Prof. Venasius Baryamureeba as VC.

If appointed, she will be the only one of the three topmost managers of Makerere University to retain their seats in the ongoing recruitment.

Baryamureeba’s bid to retain his seat failed when the senate voted against him and the council, the university’s supreme governing organ, rejected his appeal.

Prof. Tickodri-Togboa, who has been the acting second deputy VC in charge of finance and administration, did not seek reappointment after clocking retirement age.

As the first deputy VC, Tibatemwa acts as the vice-chancellor in the absence of the VC besides being responsible for the academic affairs of the university.

In a 20-minute public presentation she made in defence of her application, Tibatemwa promised to promote Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in learning and teaching processes.

She also promised to tackle plagiarism at the university using the University’s policy on Intellectual Property, which also deals with plagiarism.

Without mentioning names, she said that investigations had been carried out during her past tenure, following complaints of plagiarism and reports have been presented to the university's appointments board for action.

Meanwhile, the university senate on Friday resolved to re-advertise the post of second deputy vie-chancellor in charge of finance and administration.

This was after the search committee failed to get “competitive candidates” for the job during its one-month search.

Three candidates including Prof. Elisam Magara and associate professors Philip Kwesiga and Anthony Mugisha had expressed interest in the position.

In the final report after the interviews, Kwesiga scored 64%, Mugisha 63% while Magara was the last with 55%.

Although there was an option of considering the two candidates who scored at least 60% minimum pass mark as relatively suitable candidates for the position, the senate felt there was need to get more competitive candidates.

Having existed for 90 years, Makerere University currently offers 82 undergraduate programmes, out of which only 15 programmes are exclusive to Makerere. It has a student enrollment of about 35,000 with 1493 academic staff.

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