Education ministry should clarify MUBS
Sep 12, 2006
MAKERERE University Business School (MUBS) has declared itself autonomous following a July 17, 2006 High Court ruling that has been variously interpreted by different personalities.
MAKERERE University Business School (MUBS) has declared itself autonomous following a July 17, 2006 High Court ruling that has been variously interpreted by different personalities.
Despite a notice of appeal by Makerere University, MUBS has gone ahead to install a Vic-Chancellor and has recommended a Chancellor to President Yoweri Museveni.
It is absurd that while the press is awash with debate on the status of MUBS following the Justice Okumu Wengi’s ruling, the responsible ministry as well as the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) have maintained total silence.
While time has come for the forced marriage between MUBS and Makerere to end, the press debates point to several legal impediments that only the ministry and the NCHE can clarify.
For instance, section 22 (1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act states that a public university can only be created by statutory instrument by the Minister of Education, on the recommendation of NCHE and by a resolution of parliament.
This means the court should have ordered the Minister of Education and the NCHE to establish MUBS as an independent university rather than MUBS making a declaration.
What does the absence of representatives from the ministry and the NCHE when MUBS was unveiling its logo and flag signify?
The hurried installation of MUBS Vice-Chancellor is also questionable. The Act says Vice-Chancellors of public universities are appointed through a search committee which identifies suitable candidates to Senate, which then nominates three candidates from whom the University Council recommends one to the Chancellor for appointment. For MUBS, the Vice-Chancellor has come before the Chancellor.
The Ministry of Education and the NCHE are duty bound to clarify this situation before it is too late. Let’s avoid a situation where MUBS students are treated as graduates from an illegal institution.
Despite a notice of appeal by Makerere University, MUBS has gone ahead to install a Vic-Chancellor and has recommended a Chancellor to President Yoweri Museveni.
It is absurd that while the press is awash with debate on the status of MUBS following the Justice Okumu Wengi’s ruling, the responsible ministry as well as the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) have maintained total silence.
While time has come for the forced marriage between MUBS and Makerere to end, the press debates point to several legal impediments that only the ministry and the NCHE can clarify.
For instance, section 22 (1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act states that a public university can only be created by statutory instrument by the Minister of Education, on the recommendation of NCHE and by a resolution of parliament.
This means the court should have ordered the Minister of Education and the NCHE to establish MUBS as an independent university rather than MUBS making a declaration.
What does the absence of representatives from the ministry and the NCHE when MUBS was unveiling its logo and flag signify?
The hurried installation of MUBS Vice-Chancellor is also questionable. The Act says Vice-Chancellors of public universities are appointed through a search committee which identifies suitable candidates to Senate, which then nominates three candidates from whom the University Council recommends one to the Chancellor for appointment. For MUBS, the Vice-Chancellor has come before the Chancellor.
The Ministry of Education and the NCHE are duty bound to clarify this situation before it is too late. Let’s avoid a situation where MUBS students are treated as graduates from an illegal institution.