Makerere, Nakawa In Row Over Name

By John Eremu MAKERERE University Senate wants the Nakawa-based business school to relinquish the use of the name Makerere University. The university’s highest academic organ in an extra-ordinary session on December 12 and 13, also recommended that the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, be amended to remove representatives of affiliated colleges from Makerere University Council. The 120-member senate that comprises of heads of departments and senior academic staff only want constituent colleges to be represented on the council. Sources said Makerere University Business School (MUBS) boxed itself into a corner by seeking too much autonomy that has made it an affiliated institution rather than a constituent college. MUBS has its own council and academic board. “The senate holds the view that Makerere and MUBS are completely independent institutions and the two cannot share the same name,” a source told The New Vision yesterday. “If someone from the other institutions misuses the name of Makerere University, its the university to be held responsible,” the source added. The source said the MUBS principal, Mr. Wasswa Balunywa, was represented at the meeting by his deputy Dr. John Kakuru. Balunywa is reportedly out of the country. The two-day meeting chaired by Vice- Chancellor Prof. John Sebuwufu reportedly said the inclusion of four representatives from affiliated institutions on the university council as stipulated in the new Act, would result into out numbering the university members on the council. Ends