Ndiege refuses to leave office
Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Isaiah Ndiege at his office recently.
What you need to know:
The outgoing vice chancellor wants the Kyambogo University Council to stay the advertisement of his job until it is discovered that he is no longer fit for it.
Kampala
Outgoing Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Isaiah Ndiege has refused to hand over office to his successor, Associate Prof Fabian Nabugoomu, saying the time given to him wasn’t enough.
In a letter to the University Secretary, Mr Sam Akorimo on Monday, Prof Ndiege also asked the university council to stay the advertisement of his job until it is discovered that he is no longer fit for the job.
“In view of the fact that I have occupied the office of Vice Chancellor for the last five years, the time given to me to hand-over the office is too short for any meaningful hand-over report to be complied. Therefore, allow me more time for hand-over of the office of the Vice Chancellor,” reads part of Prof Ndiege’s January 13 letter, a copy of which the Daily Monitor has seen.
Prof Ndiege‘s five-year contract expired last Saturday, and the following day, the university council, which is the supreme organ of the institution, replaced him with Associate Prof Nabugoomu, who will hold the position until a substantive VC is appointed. Prof Nabugoomu has been deputy vice chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration.
University acts
The university council also put in place a four-member committee to review Prof Ndiege’s performance and furnish the council with a report in two weeks. The council is expected to base on that report to determine whether Prof Ndiege is fit for reappointment or a search committee to be instituted to look for a new VC.
Although Prof Ndiege is eligible for re-appointment, the University Council resolved that he has to reapply for the job.
Prof Ndiege said the decision by the council to subject him to an appraisal at the end of five years of service is a violation of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2010, Section A-M, Orders 10-16. He wondered how his performance will be reviewed when he never signed any performance contract with the university. Efforts to speak to Mr Lawrence Madete, the university spokesperson, proved futile.
Prof ndiege’s tenure at kyambogo
Ndiege was appointed VC on December 4, 2008 for a period of five years and his contract expires on Saturday.However, the university council suspended him in September 2013 in “ public interest” following a month–long staff strike and closure of the institution. He later went to court challenging his dismissal and the Nakawa High Court in November ordered his return, saying the university council had erred in sending him on indefinite forced leave
When a vice chancellor’s contract expires, the council review his performance and if it finds it satisfactory, the contact is renewed. If not, the job is advertised.
