New Kyambogo VC warns staff against disrespecting the IGG

The directive comes a week after the IGG arrested university top officials for disregarding her orders.

Kampala

The newly-appointed Kyambogo University acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fabian Nabugomu, has cautioned all staff to refrain from behaviour and action that can be deemed contemptuous of the Inspectorate of Government.

In a May 14 letter to the Chancellor, Dr Eric Adriko, a copy seen by this newspaper, Prof. Nabugomu stated that he had ordered the members of three staff associations- Kyambogo University Senior Administrative Staff Association, Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association and National Union of Educational Institutions, to be cautious.

“All members of the university community must refrain from making utterances or behaving in any way that might be interpreted as disruption or contempt of the IGG’s office or any other State agency,” the letter reads in part.

The directive comes less than a week after IGG Irene Mulyagonja ordered for the arrest of top university officials who held meetings to discuss disciplinary action against suspended Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaiah Ndiege, in defiance of her orders.

Justice Mulyagonja said she had given several directives to the university administration that were overlooked and instead she received insults and threats. “Any directive is in the interest of the on-going investigations in mismanagement of the university,” Justice Mulyagonja said.

The staff have postponed petitioning President Museveni to intervene in the ‘fragile situation’, accusing the IGG of bias, subjectivity and lopsidedness. But the staff associations yesterday jointly told this newspaper that, “the directive was temporary”.

Meanwhile, exams continued for the second day amid confusion and crisis in the top administration.
The administration issued a directive last week, stating that all students should be allowed to sit for the exams as long as they had registered with the university, have identity cards and cleared tuition fees for last semester.

Bond extended for 7 top officials

The Inspectorate of Government yesterday extended the police bond of seven top Kyambogo University staff until today. The Inspectorate’s spokesperson, Ms Munira Ali, said the extension was to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Richard Butera, to consent to the charges before the officials can be arraigned in court over abuse of office charges later today.

The officials, who were arrested on Friday but released on police bond on Saturday include, Prof. Opuda Asibo (Former acting Vice Chancellor), Prof. John Okedi, (the Chairperson University Council), Mr Ham Mugyereza, (University Bursa), Mr Sam Akorimo, (University Secretary) and Ms Christine Kyayonka, (Deputy Registrar, admissions).

The IGG cannot consent to their charge sheet and have them arraigned in court because the Inspectorate is not fully constituted. The officials are to report back to the IGG’s office today at 10am for further directions. They face charges ranging from abuse of office, conflict of interest to obstruction of the IGG.

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com