Universities urged to desist from leadership wrangles

The former Head of National Council for Higher Education, Prof. John Okuda, has asked Universities to desist from infighting.

He said such wrangles threaten the future of Universities.

"Internal leadership struggles for control between University Councils and University management are not healthy at all as they ruin the image of the graduates and the university at large," Okuda said.

Okuda, the current Chancellor of Victoria University Kampala, said people must begin to respect each other's potential and capability.

"We need to respect people's boundaries; competencies to have our institutions grow. Once the Universities grow then the young in this country will definitely grow," Okuda said.

He made the remarks during a swearing in ceremony of 14 Council Members of Victoria University in Kampala Wednesday, November 25, 2020.  

The members include: Joram Kahenano as chairperson, Joseph Biribonwa, James Kalebbo, Dr. Consolata Kabonesa, Rajiv Ruparelia, Smeer Thakkar and Dr. Mary Kanyiginya.

Others are: Rashid Ssemambo, Dr. Lawrence Muganga, Dr. Chirag Kotecha, Mark Serebe, John Bosco Waliraki, Katusabe Ssemwezi and Andrew Mwenda.

Okuda explained that Universities across the country run on a collegial system adding that as leaders we must learn to respect each other' capability.

He said as leaders we must learn to work through teams and committees in order to arrive at decisions.

While University Councils produce policies they direct management to implement decisions and also refer back and guides council as well.

Okuda said it's very important for us to appreciate the fact that many times people do not know the limits of their powers.

"That's why in proper management, policy developers will require management to implement policies and management on the other hand will inform council about where the limits are," Okuda said.

He stressed that it's important that team work is exercised and individuals are given the liberty to make decisions, implement and own the institution.

He said our Universities and those in the region are noisy because they are not doing the right thing.

"Do you see strikes at Harvard or Oxford Universities? These universities are silent as we only hear and see results because people are busy making things happen instead of wrangling,"

He said in such universities there's harmony because people work as teams and we must begin to do that in Uganda.

He said their growth depends on how much knowledge they have and much they can use it to develop and transform society.

He said the university is the only environment which will give you knowledge transformation while other environments will give you knowledge of excitement and not necessarily for transformation.

He said universities must transform society and that's what Victoria University is just doing.

"We must be able to use the available conducive environment, water and mineral resources to the benefit of society," Okuda said.

He cautioned council members to protect their name, the university, country and the education of this country and that of the Africa during their tenure.

Representing Board of Directors on Council, Rajiv Ruperelia, said as a family they believe in a very strong and quality education.

"The beautiful thing about university education is that it has no boundaries. The only limitation is ourselves and that's what Victoria University is fighting to remove amongst our society," Rajiv said.

He said Ruparelia group of Companies is more than happy to build a university of more than 40,000 people.

"I urge management and council to efficiently play their counterproductive roles and their values are absorbed by Ugandans, as a family we find no reason not to build another campus to accommodate the growing student population," Rajiv said.

The Chairperson of University Council, Joram Kahenano, reassured the board of Directors of Victoria University, that council will use its mandate to further the interests of the university.


"As it's the norm with good corporate governance, the council will continue to play its role as a policy making body and also provide oversight," he said.

He said it's within the powers of management to implement policies and other decisions of council. Council will give full support to management.

He noted that council expects support from the board of directors and he hopes that there will be a cordial working relationship between the board of directors, council and management team.