Museveni ends uncertainity at Makerere by appointing Dr Kiyonga Chancellor

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni appointed former Defense Minister Dr Chrispus Kiyonga as the new Chancellor of Makerere University, replacing Prof. Ezra Suruma after his eight-year tenure.

The appointment was confirmed by Makerere University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday morning.

“The President…has appointed Dr Crispus Kiyonga as the new Chancellor of Makerere University. On behalf of Makerere University Council, I extend our warm congratulations to Dr Kiyonga on this prestigious appointment and warmly welcome him to the service of Makerere University,” Nawangwe posted on his X account.

The Chancellor is the titular head of the University. He presides over all ceremonial assemblies of the University and confers degrees and other academic titles and distinctions. The President appoints the Chancellor on the recommendation of the University Council.

Kiyonga’s appointment concludes nearly a year of uncertainty for the university, which had been without a Chancellor since the end of Suruma’s tenure. Makerere University began the search for a new Chancellor to replace Suruma in December 2023 and had hoped to complete the process in time for the 74th graduation ceremony in January, but delays meant that Vice-Chancellor Nawangwe presided over the event instead.

Earlier this year, the University Council had nominated Prof. William Bazeyo, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration and Engineer Charles Wana Etyem, the former University Council Chairperson. The two names were submitted to President Museveni for consideration. When contacted by URN then Nawangwe confirmed that indeed nominees had been sent to the President but declined to reveal any of the names sent there.

“The position of Chancellor is a Council matter. Nominations have been sent to the Visitor who will make the appointment,” Nawangwe said.

However, Bazeeyo’s recommendation in particular faced a lot of resistance from the University’s alumni and some staff arguing that he was not fit for the position. They accused him of holding a false PhD and questioned how a person who owns a fraudulent academic qualification would issue legitimate degrees to students. Bazeyo resigned as the acting deputy vice chancellor in charge of finance and administration and withdrew his candidature for the same position on the same allegations of doubted academic qualification.

Sam Ninsiima, a Makerere University alumnus asked the President in a petition to disregard Bazeeyo claiming that the University Council prioritized their interests by proposing Bazeyo to the detriment of the broader university community. Later, Makerere University staff through their Associations; Makerere Joint Staff Associations of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (Muasa), Makerere Administrative Staff Association (Masa), and the National Union of Educational Institutions (Nuei), also petitioned Museveni, urging him to withhold consideration of Prof. Bazeyo for the Chancellorship position.  “Section 30 (1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (as amended) gives the University Council the powers to recommend candidates to you for appointment to the position of Chancellor.

However, Prof. Bazeyo holds a doctoral degree from a university that is not accredited,” read part of the petition.

In July, Museveni rejected the two options that had been sent to him by the University Council and fronted his long-term ally Kiyonga to be the head of Uganda’s oldest academic institution.

Prof. Bazeyo was appointed the Chairperson of the Busitema University Council on 16th August 2024.

Dr Kiyonga becomes the fourth non-head-of-state chancellor to lead Makerere University. Suruma who led the University for the last eight years had taken over from Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, who served for two terms from 23rd October 2007 to 23rd October 2015.

Before Kagonyera, it was only Prof. Apollo Nsibambi who was the first non-head of state to serve as Makerere University Chancellor between 2003-2007 this followed the passing of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act that instead created the position of visitor which goes to the head of state.

Dr. Kiyonga has had a long career in public service, holding various ministerial positions since 1980, including Minister of Health, Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Internal Affairs. His last posting in government was as Uganda’s Ambassador to China.

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URN