Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has threatened the academic staff association chairman Dr Robert Kakuru with serious sanctions if he doesn’t stop engaging in matters outside his jurisdiction.
In a letter dated January 24 2025, Nawangwe says he has received complaints from various University organs and stakeholders regarding the numerous correspondences addressed to them by Kakuru.
That Kakuru claims acting on behalf of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association, the body that’s brings together teaching staff well knowing that the association has not held a single meeting for several years.
“These correspondences, addressing matters outside the welfare of staff for which Muasa is established by law, and which you have circulated widely on social media have the potential to cause anarchy in the University.
You are, therefore, warned to stop these illegal activities forthwith. Failure to abide by this warning will attract serious sanctions. You stand warned,” the letter also copied to the chairperson Makerere University Council Lorna Magara reads in part.
Nawangwe’s warning letter comes a day after another signed by Kakuru on behalf of Muasa, Bennet Magara on behalf of the Makerere University Administrative Staff association-Masa and Isaac Okello on behalf of the National Union of Education Institutions, Makerere Chapter surfaced on Wednesday.
In the letter written January 28, to the chairperson of the university council, the three associations want the Council to investigate allegations of corruption in the appointment of university staff.
Among those queried in the letter was Nawangwe himself whom they accused of not having had requisite requirements for appointment as a professor and later on as vice chancellor in 2017 and 2022.
Their allegation is based on what they said was Nawangwe’s lack of the 10 peer-reviewed publications and two books in his area of specialization that he needed to have had before he was promoted to professor.
Ritah Namisango the principal information officer of Makerere University said, there will be a Council meeting in a fortnight where all these issues will be addressed.