By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The war raging on between the Makerere University Business School (MUBS) principal Prof. Wasswa Balunywa and the MUBS Academic Staff Association Chairperson Dr. Isaac Wanzige Magoola has become uglier.
We revealed recently how Balunywa had suspended Magoola, for allegedly holding two positions at MUBS, which is tantamount to conflict of interest.
However, Magoola trashed Balunywa’s suspension, claiming that he (Balunywa) is not in position to suspend him because his tenure as MUBS principal expired long ago and it has never been renewed, among other things.
But the latest our Spies at MUBS have gathered is that Magoola has since been suspended for allegedly using abusive language at the Principal.
The suspension came two days after Magoola’s dismissal from the position of the Dean, Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration, a position he had occupied since July 1, 2018.
In the letter justifying his removal from the position, Balunywa stated that it was unacceptable for Magoola as a member of MUBS management to continue acting as the Academic Staff Association chairperson.
According to our sources, Dr Magoola, who has been the acting Makerere University Business Academic Staff Association (MUBASA) will be away on half-pay effective this month, as per the the suspension letter signed by Balunywa.
“You will appreciate that as Principal, I have no business in election and appointment of the leadership of MUBASA. Your letter makes your position as Dean of Faculty untenable and shows a conflict of interest,” Balunywa said, before referring the matter to the Appointments Board.
This letter, however, prompted Magoola to author a three-page-response to Balunywa and the chairperson of the Appointments Board describing his removal as null and void. He said the letter suspending him from the position of Dean of Faculty was not only illegal but inconsequential.
Magoola cited that Balunywa was not his appointing authority and was not legally reappointed principal of MUBS since his term as Principal expired and he has never been officially put through the established competitive process.
He wrote thus; “I am a Senior Lecturer with a right to associate under MUBASA which entitles me to vote and be voted, and an academic staff with a right to vote and be voted for in such leadership positions provided I qualify.”
However, Balunywa, in his reply wrote that “You have in the past attacked me personally, my family and members in the school community. I find this conduct unacceptable.”
Previously, Dr Annet Nabatanzi, Dr Akampumuza, and Dr Arthur Ahimbisibwe were chairpersons as well as members of MUBS management committee. The current executive of the association has Dr Isaac Nkote Dr Stephen Nkundabanyanga and Dr Kitui Mayoka, who are also members of the university management.
“It is clear that you have singled me out for victimization following a personal vendetta you have waged against me for many years because of my knack to always point out your nakedness, evidenced by my insistence on a forensic human resource audit,” Magoola noted in his letter.
However, following the standoff, Balunywa said he had no other option apart from suspending Magoola for gross misconduct, demeaning his personality and that of the president, the Principal’s Appointing Authority.
“There is a need for order in the School and your continuous incitement of staff must be brought to its logical conclusion,” Balunywa’s suspension letter to Magoola reads in part.
Magoola has since sought redress by seeking the intervention of the appointing authority in the alleged abuses at MUBS, which he says threaten to ruin the leading business school.
In his petition dated August 13, Magoola wants the President to order for a forensic Human Resource Audit at MUBS, claiming that there are over 200 underpaid academic staff whose salaries have not been enhanced due to management omissions and shortcomings all courtesy of Balunywa.
