Makerere University begins search for new VC

By Francis Kagolo                            

Makerere University has finally yielded to education minister, Jessica Alupo's directive of searching for a substantive vice chancellor to replace Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba.

Baryamureeba has been serving in acting capacity for over two years.

The university council, which is the institution's top governing body, instituted a committee to search for the suitable candidate during its special sitting on Wednesday.

Chaired by Eng. Dr.Charles Wana Etyem, the council appointed Bruce Balaba, the chairperson of the university's convocation and Dr. Stephen Maloba, the head of the appointments board, as members of the committee.

Ritah Namisango, the institution's publicist said the other three committee members would come from the university's academic decision-making organ, the Senate, which is likely to meet next week.

Under the arrangement, the committee will also look for suitable candidates to fill the posts of deputy vice chancellors, currently held in acting capacity by Prof. Lillian Ekilikubinza (for academics) and Prof. Steven Tickodri-Togboa (for administration).

Baryamureeba and his two deputies were appointed on six-month renewable contracts in 2009.

The then minister for higher education, Mwesigwa Rukutana, had advised the university to appoint the trio in acting capacity until the universities and other tertiary institutions Act was amended.

‘Illegal tenure’

However, minister Alupo in January directed the university council to institute a search committee for a substantive vice chancellor following a legal interpretation by the Solicitor General (SG), Harriet Bwabi that Baryamureeba's tenure was illegal.

The SG last year advised that the law does not provide for the appointment of an acting vice chancellor or acting deputy vice chancellors.

The university council had last month declined to implement Alupo's directive and instead resorted to seeking further legal interpretation from the Solicitor General.

But the SG's second legal interpretation just confirmed the earlier one.

“Following the advice from the Solicitor General, today, March 7,2012, the university council has approved the process of initiating the search committee in accordance with the existing law,” Namisango said.

According to the law governing universities, the search committee will identify suitable candidates for the post of vice chancellor and forward them to the Senate.      

The Senate will then recommend to the council three candidates, from whom one will be picked.

Heat

The development comes at a time when Baryamureeba is embroiled in various problems including investigations into his academic credentials following allegations that he does not qualify for professorship. 

Some of the dons expected to apply for the university's top job include Prof. Eli Katunguka, currently the director of research and postgraduate studies, Prof. Edward Kirumira and Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, who also contested against Baryamureeba in 2009.

It is still unclear whether Baryamureeba will apply for the post although the council ruled that he will continue serving as acting vice chancellor until the search process is concluded.