IGG gives Mubs 90 days to defend Prof Balunywa

Prof Wasswa Balunywa. FILE PHOTO

Kampala- The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Irene Mulyagonja, has given the management of Makerere University Business School (Mubs) up to 90 days to respond to accusations of mismanagement and abuse of office at the university levelled against the principal, Prof Wasswa Balunywa.
In a letter to the chairman of Mubs Council, Prof Venansius Baryamureeba, the IGG indicates she has received complaints that Prof Balunywa spends most of his time on questionable trips abroad at the expense of the Nakawa-based institution, an affiliate of Makerere University.

The principal is also accused of mismanaging the staff payroll, causing late payment of staff salaries and allowances, and indefinitely suspending staff promotions without involvement of the University Council, resulting in more than 500 staff promotions being held in abeyance.
Prof Balunywa is further accused of continuously and deliberately neglecting to cause the elections of deans, centre directors, and heads of departments despite the Council having met on March 11, 2014, and approving the election.
He is also accused of routinely and irregularly appointing academic and administrative heads without recourse to council.

“This is therefore to bring the allegations to the attention of the Mubs Council and to express our concern about the persistent allegations about the principal. We have analysed the allegations and noted largely that they revolve around questions of the principal’s competencies as a manager of the school. We expect a report from your office about the allegations in 90 days and your timely action and report in this matter will be much appreciated,” Ms Mulyagonja stated in part.
Efforts to have Prof Balunywa comment on the issues were futile as he did not respond to our repeated calls by press time. But the spokesperson of the institution, Mr Peter Odoki, said the University Council had received the letter and the principal has responded to the allegations to the chairperson of the University Council, who is yet to write back to the IGG.
Mr Odoki dismissed the allegations against Prof Balunywa as baseless.

The IGG’s letter remains silent on the complainants.
“In the administrative structure of Mubs, the Principal is accountable to the Council and he has written to the chairperson of the University Council highlighting the entire allegations. The chairperson might have already written back to the IGG since they received the reply a few weeks back,” Mr Odoki said.