UNEB apologizes to Kyambogo over Ndiege

Apr 16, 2014

UNEB has apologized to Kyambogo University for having “unintentionally” invited Prof Isaiah Ndiege Omolo to a Board meeting

By Vision Reporter

THE Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has apologized to Kyambogo University for having “unintentionally” invited the latter’s former Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Isaiah Ndiege Omolo to a Board meeting held last week, on Monday April 7.

Although the “UNEB Act provides that all Vice Chancellors of Public Universities are members of the Board”, Prof Ndiege’s ceased to be the VC of Uganda’s second biggest when his contract expired on January 11.

In an email to New Vision, UNEB spokesman Hamis Kaheru said Ndiege’s invitation to the meeting held at UNEB headquarters in Ntinda, Kampala was “unintended”.

 “It was a result of our failure to remove his e-mail address from the mailing list for Board members. As soon as he ceased being VC, his e-mail address should have been deleted from the mailing list. It appears he received the invitation which was sent to Board members via e-mail using the old group mailing list,” explained Kaheru.

 “We regret any inconveniences caused to Kyambogo University and the VC in particular,” Kaheru said.

When contacted for a comment on his phone number known to the media, Ndiege picked-up the call but hung-up shortly after the caller identified himself as a journalist from the New Vision and introduced the subject of the call.

Thereafter, efforts to reach him on the same phone number proved futile, as he could not pick up calls.

UNEB’s remarks follow a letter from Assoc Prof Fabian Nabugomu, Kyambogo University Deputy VC in charge of Finance and Administration requesting the examinations’ body to explain the circumstances under which Ndiege was invited for the meeting.

“As you might be aware, Prof Ndiege’s contract ended on January 11 2014 and he is no longer an employee of Kyambogo University. We would like to know in what capacity he was invited to attend the meeting,” partly read the letter dated April 09 2014 from Nabugomu.

Kaheru nevertheless said “Prof. Ndiege was not invited to represent Kyambogo University and that UNEB did not understand him to be representing Kyambogo University when he came."

“He was dressed casually and he did not contribute to the discussions unlike before when he was the VC,” Kaheru narrated.

UNEB also argued that they “did not receive any "absent with apology" message from Kyambogo University in reply to the hard copy of the invitation letter nor did the new VC or his representative attend.”

Kyambogo has refuted the allegation that the institution was invited to the UNEB meeting, with Patrick Madaya, the deputy University Secretary saying he “went to the office of the VC and learnt that Kyambogo was not given any hard copy invitation letter.”

 “Since the Vice Chancellor (Acting) is in Washington (US), Prof Nabugomu would have attended the meeting on behalf of Kyambogo University,” said Madaya.Subsequently, Madaya said, Kyambogo was not represented in the UNEB Board meeting.

Kyambogo has told UNEB to Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka for any future board meetings.

“We wish to inform you that Prof Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya is substantially the acting Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University and should be invited to attend UNEB Board Meetings,” further read the letter from Nabugomu received by UNEB on April 10 2014.

Before Ndiege’s contract expired, Kyambogo staff laid down their tools for several months, vowing to resume to duty only if he quit the university.

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