Professor Bazeyo nomination continues to divide Makerere dons

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The proposed appointment of Professor William Bazeyo as the Chancellor of Makerere University has divided sections of staff, alumni, and stakeholders.

Sources have revealed that the University Council has already nominated Professor William Bazeeyo and Engineer Charles Wana Etyem and sent their names to the President for approval, sparking unrest within some university circles.

Professor Nawangwe confirmed that they had sent a list of nominees to the President but refrained from mentioning any of the candidates.

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

According to the basic eligibility criteria for candidates as released by the University, the applicant must a be citizen of Uganda, have at least a bachelor’s degree from a recognized higher institution of learning, and be an eminent person of high integrity and with good public relations.

Various staff associations, including the Makerere Joint Staff Associations of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (Muasa), Makerere Administrative Staff Association (Masa), and Nuei, have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni, urging him to withhold consideration of Professor Bazeyo for the Chancellorship position because he holds a doctoral degree from a university that is not accredited.

“It is unconscionable that a holder of an unrecognized degree can be qualified to head a university of Makerere’s reputation as a Chancellor let alone to confer degrees. Although we acknowledge that the University Council acted within its powers pursuant to Section 30 (1) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (as amended), the same law Section 26 (2) gives you powers to perform an overall supervisory and superintendent role over the affairs of the University,” one of the petitions stated.

This controversy is the latest in a series of issues that have emerged at Makerere University since December last year when the search for a new Chancellor began after the end of Professor Ezra Suruma’s term. Despite plans to conclude the selection process in time for the 74th graduation, this did not materialize, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe presided instead.

Earlier this month, URN reported that Sam Ninsiima, one of the alumni petitioned Museveni not to accept the Council’s recommendation to appoint Bazeeyo for allegedly prioritizing their interests at the detriment of the broader University community.

“How can someone with questionable academic documents be shortlisted while two candidates with credible academic records and who have served the nation with distinction be dropped?” Ninsiima asked.

The professor of occupational medicine and former Dean of the School of Public Health had long been embroiled in a conflict with alumni who questioned the integrity of his qualifications for the position, which he had held as acting for the previous four years.

The petitioners then who included Sam Ninsiima himself accused Bazeyo of obtaining his Ph.D. from the Hawaii-based Atlantic International University, which isn’t recognized by the United States Department of Education which the National Council for Higher Education (NHCE) concurred with, saying Atlantic International University wasn’t recognized by the council.

The Chancellor is the titular head of the University. He presides at all ceremonial assemblies of the University and in this name, confers degrees and other academic titles and distinctions. The Chancellor is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the University Council.

Professor Ezra Suruma, a former Finance and Economics Development Minister is the last Chancellor of Makerere University. He took over from Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, the Second non-head of State Chancellor who served for two (2) terms from 23rd October 2007 to 23rd October 2015.

Before Kagonyera, it was only Professor Apollo Nsibambi who was also a non-head served as Makerere University Chancellor between 2003-2007. Previously, several heads of state had served as Makerere University Chancellors including Yoweri Museveni who served from 1986 to 2002, Apollo Milton Obote who served from 1970-1971, 1981-1985, and Idi Amin Dada who served from 1971 to 1979.

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URN