Drama at Uganda’s prestigious Makerere University continues to unfold as Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, a University Council member, has blasted his recent interdiction as “malicious and capricious.” The embattled academic accuses Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe of abusing his office in a bid to silence opposition.
Dr. Kamunyu, who has long been vocal against alleged mismanagement at Makerere, claims his suspension lacked due process and was deliberately timed to block him from attending an upcoming University Council meeting. The suspension comes amid growing public scrutiny over Prof. Nawangwe’s qualifications for the VC position.
Unjustified and Unfair?
Speaking exclusively to The Nile Post, Dr. Kamunyu revealed that he was the only council member targeted by this move, preventing him from participating in key university governance decisions.
“He [Nawangwe] should have addressed this matter privately before making it public,” Dr. Kamunyu argued. “But he thrives on alarmist tactics to cover up issues that affect him directly.”
He dismissed allegations tied to his employment history, emphasizing that he was previously cleared by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) after a controversial dismissal from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
“The IG declared me innocent, and it’s on record,” he stated, insisting that his interdiction was baseless and orchestrated for personal vendettas.
Prof. Nawangwe’s Defense
In a letter dated February 10, 2025, Prof. Nawangwe justified Dr. Kamunyu’s suspension by citing concerns over his past employment, particularly a dismissal from Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
“A committee to investigate the matter has been constituted, and you will be invited to participate in its proceedings,” the letter read.
Dr. Kamunyu has been barred from accessing university premises and will receive only half of his salary while the investigation is ongoing. He has also been instructed to hand over university property to the Head of the Department of Forestry.
A History of Clashes
This is not the first time Dr. Kamunyu has locked horns with Prof. Nawangwe. As a former leader of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), he faced multiple suspensions and disciplinary actions under Nawangwe’s administration.
His latest interdiction follows a similar move against Dr. Jude Ssempebwa, Dean of the East African School of Higher Education Studies and Development, who was suspended on January 30, 2025, over alleged absenteeism. However, insiders claim these actions are part of a broader scheme to eliminate critics of Nawangwe’s leadership.
The Bigger Picture: Governance at Stake?
The university has recently been rocked by allegations of corruption, irregular promotions, and administrative heavy-handedness. A petition signed by MUASA, the National Union of Education Institutions (NUEI-MAK Chapter), and the Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) calls for an independent probe into what they term “unconscionable corruption” within the institution.
One of the most explosive claims involves a University Council member allegedly soliciting a bribe of UGX 5 million from staff seeking promotions. A leaked audio recording purportedly captures the official demanding payment in exchange for influencing the Chief Human Resource Officer’s decision.
Further fueling controversy, civil rights platform Agora Discourse has launched a campaign to expose alleged censorship and governance failures at Makerere. The group, run by prominent activists and lawyers, has condemned what it describes as a “systematic effort to silence dissent.”
What Next for Makerere?
As tensions escalate, staff unions and civil society groups are calling for greater transparency and accountability. The fate of Dr. Kamunyu and other interdicted staff now rests in the hands of the investigation committee, but one thing is clear—Makerere University’s leadership crisis is far from over.
Is this a legitimate effort to enforce discipline, or is it a politically motivated purge? As the saga unfolds, the battle for Makerere’s soul rages on.
