MPs chase away Balunywa
Jun 29, 2007
The principal of the Makerere University Business School, Prof. Waswa Balunywa, was yesterday dismissed from the public accounts committee of Parliament because he is “not a substantive accounting officer.â€
By Mary Karugaba
The principal of the Makerere University Business School, Prof. Waswa Balunywa, was yesterday dismissed from the public accounts committee of Parliament because he is “not a substantive accounting officer.†Committee chairperson Margaret Kiboijana (Ibanda) declined to discuss the school’s issues with Balunwya since his term of office had expired. Balunywa’s term expired on May 27, 2002 and has since not been renewed.
The committee added that it would only discuss matters concerning the school after the Ministry of Education appoints a new principal and resolves the conflict between MUBS and Makerere University.
The education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, the committee said, assured Parliament last month that a substantive principal would be appointed within two weeks.
“As far as we are concerned, you are not an accounting officer for Makerere University Business School. You are illegally in office because your term of office expired,†said Kiboijana.
Balunywa, along with other officials, was appearing before the committee to answer queries raised by the Auditor General in the financial year 2004/5.
The Auditor General queried the appointment of Balunywa and his deputy principal. “Without a contract of employment or an appointment letter, the terms under which the two officers are working are not clear.â€
Balunywa was not allowed to say anything in the committee. However, as he was walking away, he retorted that the problems of MUBS were a creation of the education ministry and that he was not responsible for them.
“The problem of appointment is not my creation. I can’t direct them to appoint me. I also want all these issues solved as soon as possible.†The MPs advised Balunywa to petition Parliament on the issue.
On Tuesday, the state minister for higher education, Gabriel Opio, told Parliament that the post of the principal would be advertised next month.
The principal of the Makerere University Business School, Prof. Waswa Balunywa, was yesterday dismissed from the public accounts committee of Parliament because he is “not a substantive accounting officer.†Committee chairperson Margaret Kiboijana (Ibanda) declined to discuss the school’s issues with Balunwya since his term of office had expired. Balunywa’s term expired on May 27, 2002 and has since not been renewed.
The committee added that it would only discuss matters concerning the school after the Ministry of Education appoints a new principal and resolves the conflict between MUBS and Makerere University.
The education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, the committee said, assured Parliament last month that a substantive principal would be appointed within two weeks.
“As far as we are concerned, you are not an accounting officer for Makerere University Business School. You are illegally in office because your term of office expired,†said Kiboijana.
Balunywa, along with other officials, was appearing before the committee to answer queries raised by the Auditor General in the financial year 2004/5.
The Auditor General queried the appointment of Balunywa and his deputy principal. “Without a contract of employment or an appointment letter, the terms under which the two officers are working are not clear.â€
Balunywa was not allowed to say anything in the committee. However, as he was walking away, he retorted that the problems of MUBS were a creation of the education ministry and that he was not responsible for them.
“The problem of appointment is not my creation. I can’t direct them to appoint me. I also want all these issues solved as soon as possible.†The MPs advised Balunywa to petition Parliament on the issue.
On Tuesday, the state minister for higher education, Gabriel Opio, told Parliament that the post of the principal would be advertised next month.