Associates of the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Council, the top governing body, are reportedly split over the handling of long-serving Principal, Prof. Wasswa Balunywa’s exit.
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| Courtesy photo |
Two days later, Council at its special meeting held on June 02, this year resolved to appoint his deputy, Prof. Moses Muhwezi as Acting Principal.
Some Council members were reportedly not happy with how events were played out quickly.
Some Council members reportedly wanted Balunywa to be given a one-month extension to prepare for his departure.
In the grand scheme of things, they hoped to use this time to lobby for his contract elongation.
They had also set an appraisal sort of report describing why Balunywa deserved another term.
This report is reportedly before Education Minister Janet Museveni.
They also reportedly attempted to reach out to the usual rescuer—President Museveni for advice but sources say they were not successful in securing his audience.
There are also unconfirmed reports that in their last desperate attempt, they reached out to Presidential Advisor on Special Operations Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba but it was late.
We are, however, told, some other Council members did not agree with the pro-Balunywa group’s schemes and instantly pressed for his exit.
That’s how they met on June 2 and voted Balunywa out, under Section 40(2)(d) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (as amended), until such a time when the position is filled substantively by the law.
During the Council meeting, we are told the pro-Balunywa group still begged to allow the former Principal a week to exit the office.
This was not granted and he was instead given three days to remove his property.
The meeting was on Friday, 2nd June and he had up to Sunday, June 4th, to remove what belonged to him. And indeed on Sunday, Balunywa, to avoid further embarrassment, cleared his office.
Even, during the June 2nd Council session, the pro-Balunywa group pleaded to allow the former Principal to retain his official car. The reason was that the man did not have any other private car means and this would delegate him to use foot-bish, boda bodas, and request for lifts. This request was also not granted.
We are told Pro-Balunywa members are still intensely lobbying for his contract renewal.
It should be noted that in 2018, when Balunywa’s contract expired, it took the intervention of President Museveni to secure another term.
Everyone thought Balunywa, then 62, had served his time and even then MUBS Council Chairperson, Prof Venansius Baryamureeba was determined to see him out.
Balunywa was not willing to go. The two ended up in public eruptions.
Anxieties were only eased by the President who directed the reappointment of Balunywa for another five-year term.
This term has now also ended.
“Following the expiry of Prof. Wasswa Balunywa’s contract as Principal on May 31, 2023, Council at its Special Meeting held on June 02, 2023, resolved to appoint Prof. Moses Muhwezi as Acting Principal, under Section 40(2)(d) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 (as amended), until such a time when the position is filled substantively by the law,” declared Francis Yosa, the institution’s Human Resource Director in an internal memo sent to MUBS staff and seen by this publication.
Muhwezi has been Balunywa’s deputy.
Balunywa, now 67, has been at MUBS's helm for 25 years and it remains to be seen whether he will attempt to stage another fight to expand his tenure at the Nakawa-based institution to 30 years.
Will President Museveni intervene again?
Will Museveni deploy him somewhere else?
There have been speculations of Balunywa replacing the late Mutebile at the Bank of Uganda as Governor or Deputy. Is this the right time?
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