Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe has been tasked to account for all the monies the university administration has been spending on the convocation’s administrative functions.
The letter from the University Council Chairperson, Ms Lorna Magara directs Prof Nawangwe to “Submit a schedule of all payments from the University to the Convocation over the last four years.”
Ms Magara has also tasked the VC to prepare a report on the chaos that ensued during the recently concluded Convocation elections.
Below is the full letter from Ms Magara to Prof Nawangwe;
“I refer to my earlier discussions with you over the recent adverse developments surrounding Makerere University Convocation, including the elections for the Executive Committee held on 3 0 December 2022.
I have also been copied in petitions concerning the 30th December elections ofthe Convocation’s Executive Committee and other matters, such as the alleged three- year failure of the current Convocation Executive Committee to convene annual general meetings as required by law and an apparent absence of accountability for the funds advanced from the University budget to the Convocation.
Section 70(1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (as amended) establishes the Convocation as an association which shall consist of the graduates and staff of the University and other persons as the Council may authorise. Section 70(2) allows the Convocation to exercise powers and pertorm such functions as the statutes may confer on it.
The enactment of a public University’s statutes is a mandate of the Council under Section 41(d) of the Act.
I note that Makerere University Convocation is currently governed by a constitution, which does not provide a role for the University Management or Council in the association’s affairs. However, as the recent developments have demonstrated, any failure on the part of the Convocation bears significant implications for the University Management and Council in the lens of the University’s stakeholders. The Council will accordingly prioritise the enactment of
a statute to address the established lacunas in the existing legal framework.
In the meantime, however, the University must act on the chaos during the 30th December Convocation Executive Committee elections held within the University premises. The Council must also address the allegations of lack of accountability for the financial resources advanced by the University to the Convocation.
The purpose ofthis letter, therefore, is to request you for the following:
- To provide a report on the chaos that occurred on the University premises on 30th December 2022 while the Convocation held elections for its Executive Committee
- Submit a schedule of all payments from the University to the Convocation over the last four years;
- Obtain from the Convocation the respective accountabilities of all funds transferred to the Convocation from the University for the last four years and subject them to an audit.
Please avail the requested information urgently in any case not later than 9th January 2023 to guide the University Council’s necessary action on the matters of Makerere University Convocation.
By copy of this letter, the University Secretary shall inform the staff and other stakeholders of the Council’s concern over the recent developments surrounding the Convocation and keep them updated on the ongoing actions.
