WHO WILL BE MAKERERE’S NEXT VICE-CHANCELLOR?
Oct 06, 2009
THE contract of the Makerere University vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, expired in May. Although the Government halted the search committee pending amendments in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, it gave the university
BY FRANCIS KAGOLO
THE contract of the Makerere University vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, expired in May. Although the Government halted the search committee pending amendments in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, it gave the university council a go-ahead to appoint an acting vice-chancellor.
The university council chairperson, Mathew Rukikaire, has made it clear that only a “performer†will take up the job.
The council wants a candidate with the capacity to curb financial mismanagement, budgetary deficits, maladministration, strikes and other challenges that have thwarted the 87-year-old university for the last decade.
“Makerere has been stuck in managerial problems. We need a proactive and steadfast person who can build teamwork and clean up the mess,†says Bruce Balaba, a member of the council and chairperson University Convocation.
Dr. William Tsimwa Muhairwe, another university council member concurs: “The vice-chancellor should give us a vision and business plan about what he wants to achieve for the university. He must be able to work with his deputies because this has been lacking in the past years.â€
The former vice-chancellor Luboobi, Prof. Edward Kirumira, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba and Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, have applied for the institution’s topmost job, each promising to serve competently.
So, who is likely to take the sit?
Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu, dean of faculty of economics and management
The 55-year-old economist has been teaching at Makerere since 1977. He was appointed dean of faculty of econimics and management (FEMA) in August to act as deputy vice-chancellor for finance and administration, replacing Bakibinga.
He is also the board chairman, Centenary Bank, a portfolio he has held for several years besides being a board member of the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC).
He first became famous for teaching economics to A-level students at Caltec Academy after completing his first degree in economics from Makerere in 1979.
Prof. Ddumba has published several pamphlets and text books for secondary school economics.
Ddumba is known for taking his work and time management seriously. He has a great sense of order and seriousness.
Dumba says: “I want to move the university from A to B. I want to improve and move it from the problem of mismanagement.â€
Prof. Edward Kirumira, the dean, faculty of social sciences
He holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen in conjunction with Harvard University, a master of arts in Population Research from Exeter University, UK and a bachelor of arts in sociology from Makerere.
In over 20 years, Kirumira rose from junior lecturer through the ranks to head of the sociology department before he was appointed faculty dean in 2005.
He has published widely on population and development, reproductive health, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.
His faculty, though not free from internal bickering, is well managed with students getting their exam results in time.
He is a member of several professional bodies including the Population Association of Uganda, the Organisation of Social Sciences Research in East and Southern Africa and the International Union of the Scientific Study of Population. Kirumira has written proposals and gotten the university some funding from foreign agencies like NORAD. Though aloof, Kirumira says he wants to improve on the management of the university.
In the university circles, he is known as a humble professor.
His critics base on this to argue that he is a bit laid back, which may not favour him in a university that is often rocked with strikes.
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the dean, faculty of computing and information technology
AT 39, holds a PhD in computer science. The youthful professor has several publications to his credit and has given several keynote/ plenary speeches at international events.
He attained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Makerere (1994), a master’s in the same field also at Makerere (1995), and a master’s in computer science from the University of Bergen Norway (1996).
He also attained his PhD from Bergen in 2000 and took over leadership of the newly-created CIT faculty at Makerere the following year.
He also holds diplomas in public relations, administration, business management and mathematical modelling.
He is a member of the Senate of Makerere University, Busitema University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
He is also a Member of the Makerere University Council and the National Board of Advisers for the Pan African Movement.
He is involved in initiatives of growing and sustaining ICT and computing human capital in sub-Saharan Africa.
His faculty has been consistently winning national and international awards in the area of ICT and research — a remarkable epitome if Makerere is to bounce back as the “Harvard of Africaâ€.
In 2007, he received the ‘Top ICT Educator/ Academic’ Award in Africa for 2007 and was appointed Judge for the African ICT Achievers Awards 2008.
In May 2009, he was honored as one of the Top 100 Professionals -2009 in the world by the International Biographical Centre in recognition of his significant contribution in the area of ICT to engender influence on the local, national and international scene.
He built the ICT faculty from scratch to become the university’s current highest income-generating academic unit.
The faculty has over 15 professors and 20 associate professors, some of whom are expatriates.
In May, the faculty launched a 12,000sq metre complex worth over $20m (about sh38.6b) from its internal revenue, to develop local computer software, carry out research and train experts in over 300 universities across Africa.
A council member described Baryamureeba as a fast-thinker, enterprising, industrious, candid, thorough and confident - virtues that have placed him up the pedestal.
Baryamureeba’s opponents, however, deem him too young to head the university, a criticism he has refused to heed to.
“I will submit my business plan to the university council and other relevant university organs,†Baryamureeba says.
He plans to focus on the university’s strategic areas of teaching and learning, research and innovations, knowledge transfer partnerships and networking.
Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, former vice-chancellor
The 63-year-old has a PhD in mathematics. He became vice-chancellor in May 2004, taking over from Prof. John Ssebuwufu.
Prior to that, he had taught and held various lower administrative ranks in the faculty of sciences under the department of mathematics.
During his five-year term which ended in May, Luboobi recorded some achievements including linking the university with the private sector, especially prominent manufacturers.
He also won himself an honorary doctorate from the University of Bargen in Norway for strengthening partnership between the two institutions.
However, during his term, the university was also trapped in internal wrangles, reports of financial mismanagement, maladministration and several strikes. There were at least four strikes organised by the academic staff association and five by students.
In March, The New Vision broke a story of Luboobi’s squabbles with David Bakibinga, the then deputy vice-chancellor finance and administration) over the management of a sh39b academic reforms’ project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
The bad blood between Luboobi and his subordinates, his critics say, undermined both the university’s administrative and academic standards.
His administration also faced a major blow on April 7, 2008 when the university academic staff association (MUASA) general assembly moved a vote of no confidence in his management.
MUASA wrote to the council, demanding the sacking of Luboobi, Bakibinga, the university secretary, Sam Akorimo and the bursar, Ben Byambabazi over alleged financial mismanagement.
Other critics accuse Luboobi of being so much of a bureaucrat, who takes long to act. This, critics say, gave his deputy Bakibinga leeway to frustrate a number of projects, including the sh2b perimeter fence that collapsed before completion. “We need new blood. Bringing Luboobi back would be disastrous,†remarked a member of MUASA.
Education Vision tried in vain to find out why Luboobi wanted to regain his post. By press time he had refused to receive phone calls and later switched off the phone.
THE contract of the Makerere University vice-chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, expired in May. Although the Government halted the search committee pending amendments in the Universities and other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, it gave the university council a go-ahead to appoint an acting vice-chancellor.
The university council chairperson, Mathew Rukikaire, has made it clear that only a “performer†will take up the job.
The council wants a candidate with the capacity to curb financial mismanagement, budgetary deficits, maladministration, strikes and other challenges that have thwarted the 87-year-old university for the last decade.
“Makerere has been stuck in managerial problems. We need a proactive and steadfast person who can build teamwork and clean up the mess,†says Bruce Balaba, a member of the council and chairperson University Convocation.
Dr. William Tsimwa Muhairwe, another university council member concurs: “The vice-chancellor should give us a vision and business plan about what he wants to achieve for the university. He must be able to work with his deputies because this has been lacking in the past years.â€
The former vice-chancellor Luboobi, Prof. Edward Kirumira, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba and Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, have applied for the institution’s topmost job, each promising to serve competently.
So, who is likely to take the sit?
Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu, dean of faculty of economics and management
The 55-year-old economist has been teaching at Makerere since 1977. He was appointed dean of faculty of econimics and management (FEMA) in August to act as deputy vice-chancellor for finance and administration, replacing Bakibinga.
He is also the board chairman, Centenary Bank, a portfolio he has held for several years besides being a board member of the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC).
He first became famous for teaching economics to A-level students at Caltec Academy after completing his first degree in economics from Makerere in 1979.
Prof. Ddumba has published several pamphlets and text books for secondary school economics.
Ddumba is known for taking his work and time management seriously. He has a great sense of order and seriousness.
Dumba says: “I want to move the university from A to B. I want to improve and move it from the problem of mismanagement.â€
Prof. Edward Kirumira, the dean, faculty of social sciences
He holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen in conjunction with Harvard University, a master of arts in Population Research from Exeter University, UK and a bachelor of arts in sociology from Makerere.
In over 20 years, Kirumira rose from junior lecturer through the ranks to head of the sociology department before he was appointed faculty dean in 2005.
He has published widely on population and development, reproductive health, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.
His faculty, though not free from internal bickering, is well managed with students getting their exam results in time.
He is a member of several professional bodies including the Population Association of Uganda, the Organisation of Social Sciences Research in East and Southern Africa and the International Union of the Scientific Study of Population. Kirumira has written proposals and gotten the university some funding from foreign agencies like NORAD. Though aloof, Kirumira says he wants to improve on the management of the university.
In the university circles, he is known as a humble professor.
His critics base on this to argue that he is a bit laid back, which may not favour him in a university that is often rocked with strikes.
Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, the dean, faculty of computing and information technology
AT 39, holds a PhD in computer science. The youthful professor has several publications to his credit and has given several keynote/ plenary speeches at international events.
He attained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Makerere (1994), a master’s in the same field also at Makerere (1995), and a master’s in computer science from the University of Bergen Norway (1996).
He also attained his PhD from Bergen in 2000 and took over leadership of the newly-created CIT faculty at Makerere the following year.
He also holds diplomas in public relations, administration, business management and mathematical modelling.
He is a member of the Senate of Makerere University, Busitema University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
He is also a Member of the Makerere University Council and the National Board of Advisers for the Pan African Movement.
He is involved in initiatives of growing and sustaining ICT and computing human capital in sub-Saharan Africa.
His faculty has been consistently winning national and international awards in the area of ICT and research — a remarkable epitome if Makerere is to bounce back as the “Harvard of Africaâ€.
In 2007, he received the ‘Top ICT Educator/ Academic’ Award in Africa for 2007 and was appointed Judge for the African ICT Achievers Awards 2008.
In May 2009, he was honored as one of the Top 100 Professionals -2009 in the world by the International Biographical Centre in recognition of his significant contribution in the area of ICT to engender influence on the local, national and international scene.
He built the ICT faculty from scratch to become the university’s current highest income-generating academic unit.
The faculty has over 15 professors and 20 associate professors, some of whom are expatriates.
In May, the faculty launched a 12,000sq metre complex worth over $20m (about sh38.6b) from its internal revenue, to develop local computer software, carry out research and train experts in over 300 universities across Africa.
A council member described Baryamureeba as a fast-thinker, enterprising, industrious, candid, thorough and confident - virtues that have placed him up the pedestal.
Baryamureeba’s opponents, however, deem him too young to head the university, a criticism he has refused to heed to.
“I will submit my business plan to the university council and other relevant university organs,†Baryamureeba says.
He plans to focus on the university’s strategic areas of teaching and learning, research and innovations, knowledge transfer partnerships and networking.
Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, former vice-chancellor
The 63-year-old has a PhD in mathematics. He became vice-chancellor in May 2004, taking over from Prof. John Ssebuwufu.
Prior to that, he had taught and held various lower administrative ranks in the faculty of sciences under the department of mathematics.
During his five-year term which ended in May, Luboobi recorded some achievements including linking the university with the private sector, especially prominent manufacturers.
He also won himself an honorary doctorate from the University of Bargen in Norway for strengthening partnership between the two institutions.
However, during his term, the university was also trapped in internal wrangles, reports of financial mismanagement, maladministration and several strikes. There were at least four strikes organised by the academic staff association and five by students.
In March, The New Vision broke a story of Luboobi’s squabbles with David Bakibinga, the then deputy vice-chancellor finance and administration) over the management of a sh39b academic reforms’ project funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
The bad blood between Luboobi and his subordinates, his critics say, undermined both the university’s administrative and academic standards.
His administration also faced a major blow on April 7, 2008 when the university academic staff association (MUASA) general assembly moved a vote of no confidence in his management.
MUASA wrote to the council, demanding the sacking of Luboobi, Bakibinga, the university secretary, Sam Akorimo and the bursar, Ben Byambabazi over alleged financial mismanagement.
Other critics accuse Luboobi of being so much of a bureaucrat, who takes long to act. This, critics say, gave his deputy Bakibinga leeway to frustrate a number of projects, including the sh2b perimeter fence that collapsed before completion. “We need new blood. Bringing Luboobi back would be disastrous,†remarked a member of MUASA.
Education Vision tried in vain to find out why Luboobi wanted to regain his post. By press time he had refused to receive phone calls and later switched off the phone.