Barya, Balunya clash over Mubs

Prof Wasswa Balunywa and Prof Venansius Baryamureba

What you need to know:

  • Allegations. Prof Baryamureba accuses Prof Balunywa of being a “bully” who only cooperates with people who bow to his demands.
  • Prof Balunywa accuses Baryamureba of micro-managing the institution.

A bitter quarrel between two top professors at the helm of leadership of Makerere University Business School (Mubs) has spilled into the open and now threatens to tear the institution apart.
The outburst on social media between Mubs council chairman Prof Venansius Baryamureba and Mubs principal Prof Wasswa Balunywa comes at a time when Prof Balunywa’s position is up for grabs as his contract comes to an end next Monday.
Education and Sports minister Janet Museveni had in an April 11, 2018 letter instructed the Education Service Commission to advertise the position to avoid a leadership vacuum at Mubs as Prof Balunywa leaves office.
“The purpose of this letter is, therefore, to inform you that the permanent secretary of the Education ministry will make a formal submission on the job specifications, duties and age requirement for the post of principal of Mubs,” Ms Museveni wrote.
Sources at Mubs say both professors have had a bitter-sweet relationship despite information that President Museveni has conditionally approved the re-appointment of Prof Balunywa for a new term as principal, with all other factors remaining constant.
It was not yet clear whether the Education ministry had acted on the President’s letter dated April 29, 2018, approving the re-appointment of Prof Balunywa.
Mr Museveni said he has acted on a March 5 letter by Prof Baryamureba recommending to the Education minister the re-appointment of Prof Balunywa.
The President in the same letter praised Prof Balunywa as a good manager since his 20-year-long tenure at Mubs has not witnessed rampant strikes as has been common in other public universities across the country.
“Since Prof Balunywa is a serious implementer of government programmes and a patriotic educationist, whose institution has never been part of indiscipline of strikes, etc., I have no objection to his re-appointment if all other factors are in order,” the President stated.
But nearly a month later, Prof Balunywa has penned a stinging missive to Prof Baryamureba, accusing him of gross interference in the institution’s management.
Saturday Monitor has seen a May 24 letter in which Prof Balunywa in a 13-point letter to Prof Baryamureba, accuses him of shabby treatment, without crediting him for the immense contribution he has made to the growth of Mubs.
Prof Balunywa points out to the former 2016 presidential candidate that there have been communication breakdowns as a result of council taking decisions against management positions.
He points out schism among staff who support Prof Baryamureba and discussing him in the press as well as disowning a March 5 letter of recommendation, among others.
“During your term, you and I communicated in various ways and met to discuss institutional issues and solutions. I believe we both know one another’s weaknesses in our interactions. However, with time, I noted a breakdown in this communication, especially when you would take decisions in Council that were against management positions, including silencing those who want to speak in meetings,” Prof Balunywa states in his letter.
He also accused Prof Baryamureba of “micro-managing” the institution by not giving management an opportunity to do its work, interfering in matters concerning dismissal of staff found guilty of indiscipline, acting without consultations, and creating a negative image of him before the Ministry of Education concerning the expiry of the term of office.
“As chairman of Council, you should have provided leadership on this process of transition. Instead you have caused confusion. Staff are divided, students are irritated and the institution is in turmoil. You should have put in place mechanisms to manage a transition; possibly you should have consulted me whether I wanted to continue as principal instead you choose to recommend and subsequently discredit me,” Pro Balunywa said.

Prof Baryamureba’s reply
Yesterday, Prof Baryamureba confirmed to Saturday Monitor that he has seen both the President’s letter giving the go-ahead for the principal’s re-appointment and also Prof Balunywa’s letter accusing him of interference.
Prof Baryamureba said he decided not to read Prof Balunywa’s letter because he knows how he operates and accused him of rushing to the President even when the ministry was handling the process of appointing the institution’s principal.
“I saw the President’s letter and I can’t speculate on what is going on in the ministry. I also saw Prof Balunywa’s letter but did not read it because I know how he operates, including circulating information in the media; that is how you have got it too. He doesn’t respect processes,” Prof Baryamureba said.
The former Makerere University vice chancellor also accused Prof Balunywa of being a “bully” who only cooperates with people who bow to his demands while pushing out those who provide alternative ideas.
He said whether Prof Balunywa is re-appointed or not, there is need for a commission of inquiry into his management systems at Mubs so that a report is issued to reveal how poorly he had managed the institution.