Makerere’s demigods

Nawangwe’s defence

Nawangwe could counter that with what he has campaigned on; among others, restoring the institution’s integrity, coming up with a new policy against sexual harassment, and implementing a new fees policy.

He could argue that his zero tolerance to indiscipline policy which partly involved suspending students who take part in endless strikes and punishing lecturers by firing, is an extension of the same neat, orderly, and disciplined attitude he adapts everywhere; including in selecting his suits and ties.

Of course, Nawangwe has always favoured ties with thick red strikes that evoke his love for authority and leadership, and fiery coloured pocket-kerchiefs to adorn his chest and reflect his hot side. But Makererians are only seeing that significance now. And they are accusing him of being intolerant and dictatorial. Many predict that the culture of chaos that he had sought to eliminate might in fact defeat him.

Nawangwe’s tough stance has its admirers.

In an earlier interview, Prof Eli Katunguka- Rwakishaya who is the vice chancellor of the second biggest university; Kyambogo, in Kampala, told the Independent that Makerere has a problem of workers who earn without actually working. He said one of the things the university needed to do is to review the work load of staff such that they can have appropriate numbers to match the work. He proposed this in 2016 just after the President had ordered closure of Makerere.

“The over a thousand lecturers at Makerere don’t do research but have resorted to trotting around the many private universities sprouting as they get free money from government since they are employed on permanent terms,” he said.

Katunguka proposed a complete overhaul of the human resource system to remove problems at the management level created by the Universities and Tertiary Institutions Act.

“It democratised management,” he said, implying that is something bad. In fact, he said, the Act needs to be amended to ensure members of the University Council –which is the top governing body, are appointed by the government and not elected as is the case today. He says Council members should also be reduced from the current 23 -26 members to 9-11 people.

Katunguka says vice chancellors, deans and deputy vice chancellors of public universities should be appointment by the President of the country and vetted by parliament instead of being elected by Council. He says staff associations in public universities should be regulated and their powers reduced.

“With this administrators will shift from fighting for their survival to working,” he says, “There is a lot of infighting and sectarianism. People at Makerere do nothing but fight every day.”

Meanwhile, as the fighting rages, Makerere University’s appeal and popularity as a centre of academic excellence appears to be suffering. Student numbers are dwindling as many resort to other universities, especially the paying private students.

The university currently has 39,000 students, most of them self – sponsored but the decline in the numbers has hurt the institution financially too. For instance, in the Financial Year 2015/2016 when the university experienced numerous strikes, it’s estimated that it lost up to Shs70billion because of a reduction in paying students numbers.