President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has once again surprised the academic community with a bold appointment — naming Prof. Jack H. Pen-Mogi Nyeko, the outspoken and sometimes divisive former Gulu University Vice Chancellor, as the new Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
The appointment, signed on October 17, 2025, comes as Prof. Charles Mark Lwanga Olweny concludes his second and final term at the helm of the western-based public university. Prof. Pen-Mogi’s new term will run for four years, effective from the date he assumes office.
According to State House sources, Museveni made the appointment under Section 30(1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, acting on the recommendation of the University Council.
MUST, located in Mbarara City, is one of Uganda’s top public universities, specializing in science, technology, and innovation — key areas Museveni has repeatedly emphasized as vital for the country’s transformation.
The Chancellor, as per university law, serves as the ceremonial head and guardian of institutional integrity, presiding over graduations and guiding strategic direction.
Who Is Prof. Pen-Mogi Nyeko?
A seasoned academic and veterinarian by training, Prof. Pen-Mogi, 77, is no stranger to Uganda’s education sector — or to controversy.
Born on May 12, 1948, in northern Uganda, he holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and a PhD from Makerere University, plus a Master’s degree from the University of Nairobi. His academic field is molecular parasitology, but his reputation extends far beyond the lab.
He first made national headlines in the early 2000s when President Museveni appointed him to lead the technical team that established Gulu University — later becoming its founding Vice Chancellor in 2002. His tenure, however, ended in acrimony and internal wrangles, with critics accusing him of autocratic leadership and administrative inflexibility.
Outside academia, Pen-Mogi is also a former Member of Parliament for Kilak County (Gulu District) and was part of the 1994 Constituent Assembly that drafted Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
Pen-Mogi’s return to high office has already stirred mixed reactions in academic and political circles.
Supporters argue that his vast experience and institutional memory make him an ideal choice for the job, especially as MUST seeks to stabilize and expand its research profile.
Critics, however, see the move as yet another example of Museveni’s preference for long-serving loyalists. “M7 loves his old guards too much,” one academic insider whispered. “There are plenty of fresh, capable leaders who could bring new energy — but the President keeps recycling the same names.”
Prof. Pen-Mogi steps into a role at a time when Mbarara University has been grappling with governance challenges, faculty unrest, and calls for stronger institutional accountability.
His leadership style — known to be firm, vocal, and sometimes confrontational — will likely shape the next chapter of MUST’s identity. Whether that means renewed discipline or renewed drama remains to be seen.
Pen-Mogi is expected to formally assume office in the coming weeks, with an official handover ceremony to follow. The Ministry of Education is yet to comment publicly on the appointment, though sources indicate it has been warmly received by sections of the university’s governing council.
For now, one thing is clear: Museveni has once again placed a trusted but polarizing figure at the heart of Uganda’s higher education system — ensuring that the debate around merit, loyalty, and leadership is far from over.
