Prof Baryamureeba asks government to probe Mubs

Kampala. Prof Venansius Baryamureeba has asked Ministry of Education and Inspector General of Government to investigate Makerere University Business School (Mubs) to establish the extent to which the institution has been mismanaged.
Prof Baryamureeba who was dismissed by a council he chaired for almost six years yesterday said his attempt to streamline operations at the institution always met resistance from the school’s Principal Prof Wasswa Balunywa.

“The rot at Mubs that has been going on for years under the watch of Prof Balunywa is mindboggling. My attempt to address some of these issues has been slowly but surely putting me on a collision path with the Principal of Mubs,” Prof Baryamureeba said during a media briefing.
He said he had written to the minister of Education Janet Museveni asking government to intervene in the issues that he believes are destroying the business institution and is yet to receive a response.

“President Museveni has stated several times that he went to the bush to fight bad governance, bad leadership, corruption and other ills in society and I believe him. The First Lady and Minister of Education is a born again politician. It is my belief that it is in their best interest and the interest of government to weed out bad leadership and corruption,” Prof Baryamureeba said.
He added: “…Prof Balunywa after being reappointed feels he is larger than life. His capture of Mubs Council is short lived and shall lead to his downfall.”
He cited issues of institutionalised corruption at Mubs, gross mismanagement and abuse of office, claimed that management headed by Prof Balunywa had captured Council, the institution’s supreme organ and that the latter had failed to implement council decisions which made their work difficult.

“There is illegal recruitment, appointment and dismissal of staff by management. Management is causing financial loss to Mubs,” he added.
Mubs spokesperson, Mr Peter Odoki yesterday said Prof Balunywa was out of the country and that Prof Baramureeba’s assertions were not new as the IGG has probed them before.
Mr Odoki explained that Council’s decision to withdraw Prof Baryamureeba’s membership two weeks ago was in accordance with the law.

Background
Following President Museveni’s re-appointment of Prof Balunywa as Mubs’ principal in May, the council set up a committee on July 12 to review Prof Balunywa’s relationship with his boss Prof Baryamureeba with an aim to reconcile the duo. The council had given the committee three months to submit the report.

However, on August 14, Mr Francis Yosa, the secretary to Council wrote to Prof Baryamureeba without giving reason informing him that the council had withdrawn his membership.
“You hereby cease to be a member of the Mubs council with immediate effect,” the letter read in part.
Mr Isaac Ngobya, Prof Baryamureeba’s vice chairperson replaced him as Mubs Council chairperson.

Prof Baryamureeba yesterday also questioned the integrity of the council’s committee, saying they didn’t have the moral authority to investigate him.
The ministry’s permanent Secretary, Mr Alex Kakooza, said he was out of the country and asked that the undersecretary, Mr Aggrey Kibenge respond to our questions.
However, Mr Kibenge said he wasn’t privy to the information at his level, directing this newspaper to the Director Higher Education, Mr Robert Odok Oceng who promised to inquire from the State Minister for Higher Education Dr Chrysostom Muyingo.

[email protected]