In a fiery defense of his leadership, Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, dismissed allegations that his stringent disciplinary measures infringe on freedom of expression. Speaking during the Live at 9 prime news bulletin on NBS Television Thursday evening, Prof. Nawangwe asserted that his firm stance has eradicated hooliganism from Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning.
“Some people think hooliganism is equivalent to freedom of expression,” Prof. Nawangwe said, emphasizing that his policies have brought about stability and a more focused academic environment at Makerere. Since taking the helm in 2017, his critics have accused him of ruling with an iron hand, a claim he refuted as an effort to preserve the university’s integrity and discipline.
The VC’s remarks come amid escalating scrutiny over his governance record. Renewed public debate has centered on not only his disciplinary tactics but also questions regarding the authenticity of his academic credentials. In response, Prof. Nawangwe rejected any notion of impropriety.
Addressing discrepancies in his academic documents, he noted, “One name is constant. Nawangwe is constant, Barnabas is constant. And there is the name Umoja which I dropped when I came back from the Soviet Union.” He explained that the change was legally executed through a sworn affidavit when the Uganda National Examinations Board’s policies during his A-level examinations required students to register with only two initials.
Challenging his critics further, he asked, “Tell us if there is any other Barnabas Nawangwe, who studied at Busia, who studied at Busoga College Mwiri, who is not me, in the last 100 years.” This retort was aimed at dispelling doubts over his academic journey and leadership legitimacy.
Amid allegations of corruption, particularly regarding staff promotions, Prof. Nawangwe staunchly defended Makerere’s recruitment procedures. “The Makerere recruitment and promotions environment is probably the most transparent than anywhere in the whole world,” he remarked, recalling that his own promotion to professor was subject to rigorous external review by international scholars—a necessity given the lack of suitable assessors within Africa at that time. “The allegations that you can bribe people are not true,” he added.
Under his tenure, Prof. Nawangwe claims to have transformed Makerere into a research-driven institution with a professional academic climate that has elevated the university’s stature regionally and internationally. However, his strong leadership style and the recent surge in corruption allegations, including a directive by the Minister of Education to have the Inspector General of Government investigate further, suggest that his legacy may soon be determined by the outcome of these inquiries.
As Makerere University navigates this turbulent period, both supporters and detractors of Prof. Nawangwe eagerly await the results of ongoing investigations, which promise to shed further light on the true state of affairs within one of Africa’s most storied academic institutions.
