Why Prof Umar Kakumba is being pushed out of Makerere

Last week, Makerere University announced the appointment of Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza as the acting deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA), replacing Prof Umar Kakumba.

Buyinza, who currently serves as the academic registrar, will hold the position in an acting capacity for six months or until a permanent DVCAA is appointed. This move effectively diminishes Kakumba’s chances of regaining his position. In a recent announcement, Ritah Namisango, the public relations officer at Makerere, did not specify the details regarding the appointment process or who made the decision.

Buyinza’s appointment follows the end of Kakumba’s term in November last year, during which he continued to serve in an acting capacity until he was unexpectedly removed from all management WhatsApp groups without prior notice last month. The DVCAA office remained vacant for a month until Buyinza’s appointment.

Kakumba’s sudden removal surprised many. Interviews conducted at Makerere and beyond reveal that he was considered a good administrator, well-liked by both students and staff for his leadership style, which emphasized dialogue over confrontation and reconciliation over escalation.

This approach endeared him to the major constituencies at Makerere. Three sources indicated that his popularity may have displeased influential figures, including the First Lady, who also serves as the minister for Education and Sports, overseeing Makerere University.

GENESIS OF KAKUMBA’S TROUBLES

Prof. Umar Kakumba was appointed as deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) in 2018 for a five-year term after defeating four other candidates. Since his appointment, Kakumba has maintained an open-office policy, allowing students and staff to freely address their concerns.

This approach contrasts sharply with that of his superior, Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, who has been known for his authoritarian style since his appointment in 2017. Nawangwe’s tenure has been marked by the dismissal of numerous students and staff who voiced concerns about university management, more than any recent vice chancellor.

This highhanded approach has reportedly reduced demonstrations and other forms of agitation at Makerere University. On the other hand, Kakumba preferred dialogue and compromise, earning him respect and popularity among students and staff. According to sources who requested anonymity to speak freely, Nawangwe had never expressed discontent with Kakumba’s approach.

In fact, one source noted that Nawangwe had consistently given Kakumba high marks in annual appraisals and had embraced some of Kakumba’s initiatives, such as the Deans’ Forum.

“Kakumba has almost been the substantive vice chancellor because most of the time, since his term was renewed, Nawangwe has been out of the country. Every time he travels, he leaves Kakumba as the acting VC. I’m really surprised that at the last minute he has turned against him,” a dean of one of the schools remarked in an interview.

DEANS’ FORUM

In 2019, Prof Umar Kakumba, drawing inspiration from global examples, introduced the Deans’ Forum at Makerere University. This forum brought together all heads of schools, though Kakumba, not being a dean himself, served as its patron. The forum was well-received and even had Vice Chancellor Nawangwe as a guest of honor at many meetings. Nawangwe praised the initiative, stating that it would help the university meet its targets.

However, in a surprising reversal, Nawangwe suspended the Deans’ Forum at the end of May 2023. In a letter dated May 29, he cited queries about the legality of the forum: “Pending resolution of the legality of this forum, all activities of the Forum are hereby suspended.”

According to sources, the trigger for this suspension was the selection of Prof. Anthony Mugisha as the next deputy vice chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration (DVCF/A). This position had been vacant since Prof William Bazeyo’s resignation in 2020. Bazeyo’s appointment had been successfully challenged in court by Mugisha, who argued that the select committee had overstepped its authority by shortlisting only one candidate.

The court ruled in favor of Mugisha, declaring the position vacant. Although Bazeyo was reappointed in an acting capacity, he withdrew from the race following controversy over the authenticity of his PhD.

Following Bazeyo’s resignation, Dr Josephine Nabukenya was appointed in an acting capacity until November 2021, when Prof Henry Alinaitwe took over, also in an acting capacity. Sources indicate that Arinaitwe, who is close to Nawangwe and Lorna Magara, the chairperson of the Makerere University Council, was the favored candidate.

When Alinaitwe was defeated in the Senate, accusations arose that the Deans’ Forum had conspired against him. A source explained, “When Alinaitwe was defeated in the Senate, red flags were raised. They accused the Deans’ Forum of being used to conspire against Alinaitwe, who is the favorite candidate for the cabal.”

THE MUSEVENI’S FIRM GRIP ON MAKERERE

Another source revealed that this information reached First Lady Janet Museveni, who, in her capacity as minister of Education, vowed to push Kakumba out of university management.

“She was told that Kakumba was mobilizing not only staff but also students to take decisions that threaten the peace and calmness that Nawangwe has created. She said she can never allow Makerere to go back to the old days of being a hotbed for demonstrations,” the source disclosed.

For a long time, Makerere University has been a tinderbox, always minutes away from explosion. Throughout its 100-year history, the university has been a hotbed for anti-goVernment sentiments. If it wasn’t the students demonstrating, it would be the staff, both teaching and non-teaching. These demonstrations at Makerere always had the potential of spilling over to the rest of the city. However, with the appointment of Nawangwe as vice chancellor in 2017, the landscape at Makerere changed drastically.

Nawangwe ruthlessly dealt with all those leading this agitation by expelling them, a move that endeared him to the establishment. His firm approach led to an extension of his term beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65, set when he was initially appointed. To further solidify their control over the university, the minister of Education, Janet Museveni, filled the university council—the highest decision-making body of the institution—with her loyalists.

Lorna Magara, said to be the younger sister of Allen Kagina, the powerful executive director of the Uganda National Roads Authority, was appointed as the chairperson of the council despite her only management experience being as principal of Vine International Christian Academy.

Following the appointment of Kiryowa Kiwanuka as attorney general, Janet Museveni appointed her son-in-law, Edwin Karugire, to replace him as the chairperson of the Appointments Board of Makerere University. Additionally, Janet Museveni’s trusted allies dominate the council, ensuring her influence over the institution’s policies and operations.

“These guys have literally taken over Makerere. They are supposed to be a policy body, but they get directly involved in the day-to-day running of the university,” said a source.

“Even Nawangwe is disillusioned with the way these guys are running the university. But what can you do to them? They are the minister’s chosen people. They have completely run down this institution. Everyone fears to talk about them because doing so might cause your exit from the university. On top of being incompetent, Magara has no capacity whatsoever to run an institution like Makerere. By the time her term expires, Makerere will not be recognizable.”

A principal of one of Makerere’s 10 colleges, who requested anonymity, echoed these sentiments, stating that the university is in a free fall.

“The university has had an acting deputy vice chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration for about seven years. Now, the university has an acting deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs. Above all, the university doesn’t have a chancellor. The death of Makerere University employment systems is real. There is a lot of double standards in the employment of staff, and this has killed the morale of staff,” the principal said.

BEING MUSLIM/MUGANDA

Three individuals with direct knowledge of Makerere University’s internal affairs have suggested that Kakumba’s troubles may also be linked to his tribe and religion. These sources revealed that, despite its absurdity, there is a general resentment toward Baganda at Makerere University.

This situation is exacerbated by the fact that Kakumba is not only a Muganda but also a Muslim, a group allegedly disliked by the university’s top management.

“We have a rabid mulokole (Born-Again Christian) in the name of Magara, who is supported by the First Lady, whose commitment to the Born-Again church is well-known. These individuals view Kakumba as a threat. Given his popularity among staff and students, they believe it was only a matter of time before he sought the office of the Vice Chancellor. The idea of having a Muslim Muganda as the VC is incomprehensible to them, which is why they are pushing him out,” one source said.

Prof Ddumba-Ssentamu, the last Muganda to serve as vice chancellor, faced similar opposition and was ultimately forced not to seek a second term

DOUBLE STANDARDS

In August 2022, Nawangwe was reappointed as vice chancellor of Makerere University without undergoing the usual selection process. According to a memo from University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda, Nawangwe’s reappointment was made by the then chancellor, Prof Ezra Suruma, following the provisions of Section 31(4) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, based on the recommendation of the University Council.

This provision states, “The Vice Chancellor shall be appointed on terms and conditions determined by the University Council for five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term.”

However, a faction of the staff, led by Prof Jude Ssempebwa and Dr Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, petitioned the University Council to challenge the reappointment. They argued that the reappointment should be evaluated in light of the eligibility requirements outlined in the job advertisement from 2017, when Nawangwe first assumed the position.

The advertisement set the age limit between 40 and 65 years. Despite this, Attorney General Kiryowa-Kiwanuka supported the reappointment, asserting that eligibility for reappointment is determined on the day an individual is first appointed to serve their initial term.

“Our interpretation of Subsection (4) read together with Subsection (3) of the Universities and Tertiary Institutions Act,…is that it contemplates a search process where the outgoing Vice Chancellor is not eligible for reappointment on grounds of incompetence or any other disqualifying factor under contract of employment or the law. That is why the provision has the expression ‘eligible’ for reappointment for…’ as opposed to ‘eligible to reapply for,’” Kiryowa-Kiwanuka’s letter read in part.

Despite this guidance, the Council, led by Lorna Magara, appears to be moving away from Kiryowa-Kiwanuka’s interpretation and is seeking a new deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA), despite Kakumba expressing interest in retaining the job. The Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act also states that the DVC shall be eligible for reappointment.

Sources indicate that Kakumba expressed his interest in retaining the position before his term expired in November last year. However, Nawangwe has not presented an appraisal report that satisfies the University Council. When he attempted to present a report on June 27, it was rejected for lacking basic facts.

When contacted for a comment, Prof. Kakumba declined to engage in the controversy.

“I have nothing to say about that, please talk to the vice chancellor or the University Council chairperson,” Kakumba said before hanging up. In response to our inquiries, Nawangwe denied any crisis at Makerere University. “All appointments have been made according to the law and there is no crisis at Makerere University. For any other inquiries, refer to the appointing authority,” Nawangwe’s brief response read.

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE

“The Makerere University Council is currently conducting an evaluation of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) in accordance with the provisions of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act and the Makerere University Council Charter.

In the interim, the University Council has authorized the designation of the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, to assume the duties of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs).

“The University Council, exercising its mandate, has taken the necessary steps to ensure the seamless continuation of the University’s administrative and management functions. All required appointments or reappointments are being conducted in strict accordance with the law.”

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