Campus Bee has learnt that the Makerere University Council has postponed the endorsement of the appointment of Professor Damalie Nakanjako as the next Principal College of Health Sciences (CHS) due to complaints from the college staff.
The staff are complaining that Prof Nakanjako’s appointment was done in absence of college staff members which breaches the guiding laws and principles. The college staff petitioned the university council at its sitting that was held on February 19th 2020, in the petition they said that they were left behind in the consultation process which contravenes Sections 53 and 54 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (UOTIA).
The Act affords for election of a Dean or Director of a faculty, institution or college and other academic body by its academic staff from among its members, in line with the procedures proposed by the senate and approved by University Council and that on top of that Prof Nakanjako didn’t have the required experience for the job which was at least four years of managerial ability and experience in an institution of higher learning.
On September 26th 2019, Makerere University advertised positions of Principal and Deputy Principal and again re-advertised the same positions on November 11th, 2019 with deadlines October 16th and November 22nd respectively. The agreed pass mark was set at 60% where Professor Nakanjako recorded an average mark of 76.2% while her opponent, Professor Joloba scored 77.3% making him the best candidate for the principle position.
However, it is alleged that the search committee declined to recommend Professor Joloba for appointment due to some complaints against him despite lack of a convincing report on the source of the criticisms and evidence of disciplinary action against him.
When the Senate sat to decide over the qualifications of candidates selected for the principle positions College of Health Sciences inclusive. In this sitting, the members saw the need to scrutinize the search committee’s appointment of Prof Nakanjako but the petition was brought in late to the date of the council meeting.
The university council decided to inform the Senate to delay endorsement of the candidate for Principal of the College of Health Sciences up to two weeks’ time when the decision on the petition raised by staff of the College will be handled.
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