Why did the MUBS saga go that far?
Sep 17, 2006
SIR — As we look forward to the integration of Kenya Uganda and Tanzania, Uganda might put her foot in it with her habitual behaviour of impunity. When President Museveni took power in 1986, he declared it a “fundamental change†and had no kind words for past leaders whom he baptised swine.
SIR — As we look forward to the integration of Kenya Uganda and Tanzania, Uganda might put her foot in it with her habitual behaviour of impunity. When President Museveni took power in 1986, he declared it a “fundamental change†and had no kind words for past leaders whom he baptised swine.
To me this meant Uganda had returned to sanity and its rightful position in the world community. Now, there are very worrying signs that we have actually been going round in circles. There is very little respect for institutions in Uganda. Look at the embarrassing situation between Makerere University and its affiliate school, Makerere University Business School. How can an individual bestow himself titles and go on to spend public money to advertise the fact when everybody who seems to matter looks on?
The principal of MUBS, Wasswa Balunywa has just done that and nobody was rising a finger until the press screamed! What is the difference if we didn’t have the Ministry of Education? Is balunywa doing this under his own steam or is there some untouchable politician higher up propping him up? Whatever the case, Uganda is becoming an embarrassment before the international community. So many things are going wrong but we only have political rhetoric for answers! This will get us nowhere.Why didn’t MUBS follow the proper procedure and law if it wanted to become independent from Makerere. And if it thought it was independent, why did it want to cling to the name makerere? Is Makerere in Nakawa.
Finally, the Ministry of Education must justify its existence or ship out if it cannot take proactive measures and merely wakes up when the public blows the whistle. Mr Wasswa Balunywa and his colleagues should properly be disciplined and removed from MUBS because the relationship between MUBS and makerere is going to be extremely difficult. All this has been brought about by the apathy or connivance of some people in high places.
John kawooya
masaka
SIR —I join my voice to countless others who have commented on the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) saga. The loud silence of parliament is puzzling. The recent sudden transformation of the principal of MUBS to a ‘VC’ is funny. I think it would be alright
if the future of thousands of Ugandans was not being put at stake;
especially if it turns out that the degrees they are pursuing now are eventually classified as bichupuli, by Makerere and probably other employers. But
why were the parents of the children who are in MUBS, and the students
themselves, also silent? Is it really possible that the 'VC' of MUBS was
doing this without the blessings of the highest office in the land? What is
so hard about parliament sitting one day and declaring MUBS a university —
preferably calling it Nakawa University of Business School (NUBS)? Who would oppose
that? Are the people in Nakawa actually equal to the task of running a
university? If they could not even come up with an original motto ('Enabling
the future, as proposed by MUBS management, reads like a plagiarised
version of Makerere’s ‘We build for the future’), can they really design and run degree programmes? I suggest that parliament should declare
Nakawa University of Business (NUBS) a university and then let the post of
Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor be advertised, as is standard practice elsewhere. It does not take a lot of imagination to see that Uganda has many more serious people than some of the characters who are now in charge of Nakawa. Let us not fold our hands when people are playing about with the future of our children.
Dr. Deo.Olila
Makerere University
SIR — Just recently Makerere University Business School (MUBS) was declared independent from Makerere University by its own administrators! Mubs has already designed her new logo and flag to demonstrate her ‘maturity’. But it is so surprising that the daughter claiming to be now independent is still using her mother’s name! MUBS must adopt another name to assert her maturity. "Nakawa University" would be a more appropriate and reasonable name.
Herbert Ssali
Kireka High School
To me this meant Uganda had returned to sanity and its rightful position in the world community. Now, there are very worrying signs that we have actually been going round in circles. There is very little respect for institutions in Uganda. Look at the embarrassing situation between Makerere University and its affiliate school, Makerere University Business School. How can an individual bestow himself titles and go on to spend public money to advertise the fact when everybody who seems to matter looks on?
The principal of MUBS, Wasswa Balunywa has just done that and nobody was rising a finger until the press screamed! What is the difference if we didn’t have the Ministry of Education? Is balunywa doing this under his own steam or is there some untouchable politician higher up propping him up? Whatever the case, Uganda is becoming an embarrassment before the international community. So many things are going wrong but we only have political rhetoric for answers! This will get us nowhere.Why didn’t MUBS follow the proper procedure and law if it wanted to become independent from Makerere. And if it thought it was independent, why did it want to cling to the name makerere? Is Makerere in Nakawa.
Finally, the Ministry of Education must justify its existence or ship out if it cannot take proactive measures and merely wakes up when the public blows the whistle. Mr Wasswa Balunywa and his colleagues should properly be disciplined and removed from MUBS because the relationship between MUBS and makerere is going to be extremely difficult. All this has been brought about by the apathy or connivance of some people in high places.
John kawooya
masaka
SIR —I join my voice to countless others who have commented on the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) saga. The loud silence of parliament is puzzling. The recent sudden transformation of the principal of MUBS to a ‘VC’ is funny. I think it would be alright
if the future of thousands of Ugandans was not being put at stake;
especially if it turns out that the degrees they are pursuing now are eventually classified as bichupuli, by Makerere and probably other employers. But
why were the parents of the children who are in MUBS, and the students
themselves, also silent? Is it really possible that the 'VC' of MUBS was
doing this without the blessings of the highest office in the land? What is
so hard about parliament sitting one day and declaring MUBS a university —
preferably calling it Nakawa University of Business School (NUBS)? Who would oppose
that? Are the people in Nakawa actually equal to the task of running a
university? If they could not even come up with an original motto ('Enabling
the future, as proposed by MUBS management, reads like a plagiarised
version of Makerere’s ‘We build for the future’), can they really design and run degree programmes? I suggest that parliament should declare
Nakawa University of Business (NUBS) a university and then let the post of
Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor be advertised, as is standard practice elsewhere. It does not take a lot of imagination to see that Uganda has many more serious people than some of the characters who are now in charge of Nakawa. Let us not fold our hands when people are playing about with the future of our children.
Dr. Deo.Olila
Makerere University
SIR — Just recently Makerere University Business School (MUBS) was declared independent from Makerere University by its own administrators! Mubs has already designed her new logo and flag to demonstrate her ‘maturity’. But it is so surprising that the daughter claiming to be now independent is still using her mother’s name! MUBS must adopt another name to assert her maturity. "Nakawa University" would be a more appropriate and reasonable name.
Herbert Ssali
Kireka High School