While appearing on NTV’s Fourth Estate last night, Makerere University’s Vice chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe was on the hot seat after being pinned by the chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association over poor management.
The MUASA Chairperson Dr.Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi said that the visitation report is a clear verdict to Makerere’s administration. While replying Nawangwe’s confident comments that Makerere is ranked best, Dr. Kamunyu revealed that the Wandegeya based campus is ranked best in research and very poor in student welfare and management.
When asked by the moderator on what he thinks of the new reforms made by the administration, Dr. Kamunyu revealed that the Vice Chancellor did not consult MUASA regarding scrapping off staff incentive, evening classes and meals. “We would want his reforms conducted in a consultative, strategic and very sure way. For example, these pronouncements that were made on the new changes as regards to evening lectures, I would ask the Vice Chancellor, were they taken through a senate?” Dr. Kamunyu asked.
“I called a member of council through my PR, and said he was shocked by VC’s pronouncement, I called a member of senate to find out whether pronouncements of my Vice Chancellor were taken through the right institutions, the decisions were never taken by Senate” Dr Kamunyu added.
A disagreement erupted in NTV’s studio when Prof Nawangwe warned lecturers who refuse to mark exams just because they are not paid. In his response to Nawangwe, Dr Kamunyu told him to turn Makerere upside down and empty the dirt, just like a local newspaper did last week. “I heard professor warning about those who don’t mark, and I am advising professor please just like the newspaper turned the main building, please empty the main building, empty the chaff, increase efficiency and we promise you, we will give you the best,” Dr Kamunyu advised.
Dr Kamunyu showed his anger on the administration’s decision of scrapping off staff incentive.He however advised the VC to reconsider negotiations with MUASA.