“Makerere Has Become the Butt of all Jokes For their Association with Deputy President Ruto” – Kenyan Professor Makau

Prof Nawangwe and Makerere University have responded to Critisims of William Ruto African Leadership Institute at Makerere.

On 21st December, 2019, the deputy President of Kenya HE William Samoei Ruto came to Uganda where he visited President Museveni in Mubende and later on he went to Makerere University were he laid a foundation stone for the William Ruto African Leadership Institute.

The establishment of the Institute is aimed at promoting research into African political and social-economic challenges and also to train visionary leaders for the African continent.

Since then Kenyans and Ugandans, alike, through social media platforms started showing dissatisfactions of how the oldest and model university in East Africa decided to name it’s institute after Dr Ruto.

Their voice was boosted by the US-based Kenyan scholar Prof Makau W. Mutua who condemned the move by Makerere University to name an institute after deputy President William Ruto.

In a tweet, yesterday (Sunday 29th December 2019) night Prof Makau termed the Makerere’s action as an absurd and totally inconceivable blunder that was poised to spoil the reputation of higher education in Uganda. In his article, Prof Makau said Makerere had now become the butt of all jokes due to the Ruto fete.

Today morning, the vice chancellor of Makerere University Prof Barnabas Nawangwe on his facebook account has responded to the criticisms towards the established institute.

“The good Prof Makau W. Mutua comments are out of context, Dr Ruto is not getting an academic award from Makerere. He is simply helping build an institute for leadership and as the champion and key funder, it is just logical that is named after him.” Prof Nawangwe explained.

In addition to Prof Nawangwe’s response, Makerere University has also posted on it’s official facebook page on the same issue.

“The opinion written in one of the East African dailies criticizing the establishment of the William Ruto African Leadership studies Institute at Makerere is misguided and out of context. The institute is not an academic award as Prof Makau W. Mutua seems to insinuate, but a rare initiative by an African Indigenous scholarship.” Makerere University posted.