Prof. Barya hands over Makerere office

By Conan Businge       

Outgoing Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansis Baryamureeba officially hands over Makerere’s top administrative office to Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu Thursday.

Prof. Ddumba was chosen last week by the Chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, to take over the seat from Prof. Barya.

Prof. Barya became the Vice Chancellor in 2009, in acting capacity; and will leave after 17 years at the University.

Sources revealed that plans are underway to have the event held this Thursday, “if there are no critical changes to the programme.”

The university publicist Ritah Namisango confirmed the handover scheduled to take place in the afternoon.

Prof. Ddumba becomes the ninth Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.

He will be following in the footsteps of Prof. Yusuf Lule Kironde (1964 -1970), Prof. Frank Kalimuzo (1970 –1973), Prof. Asavia Wandira (1973 –1975, 1979 – 1986), Prof. Senteza Kajubi [RIP] (1977 –1979 and 1990 – 1993), Prof. Barnabas George Kirya, (1986 – 1990), Prof. John Ssebuwufu (1993 – 2004), Prof. Livingstone Luboobi (2004 – 2009) and Prof. Barya (2009 – todate).

The new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ddumba, is also a very experienced senior staff of the university, and also sits on a number of Boards and Governing Councils of various institutions. He has been the acting Principal of the College of Business and Management Sciences at Makerere.

He has for years been a member of the Senate, and Finance Commission– Caritas Internationalis based in Vatican. At Makerere, during Prof. Barya’s reign, he has been a Vice Chairman of the Change Management Committee.

He is also the chairman Board of Directors Centenary Rural Development Bank Ltd. He also sits on the Governing Council of Kisubi Brothers University College, Council of Muteesa I Royal University, the Research Advisory Committee for Economic Research Policy Centre, and the Editorial Advisory Board of Zambia Social Science Journal.