Museveni appoints Prof Eli Katunguka as NCHE chairperson
Kyambogo University vice chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya
What you need to know:
- Professor Katunguka said it was a sign of trust from the appointing authority.
President Museveni has appointed Professor Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya as the new Chairperson of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
The Kyambogo University vice chancellor will head the Council consisting of eighteen eminent persons for the next five years effective March 22, 2019, the date of appointment.
He replaces Professor Pen Mogi, former Vice Chancellor of Gulu University. Mogi took over from Professor Fred Kayanja, former Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
Prof Katunguka’s new appointment means that he will steer NCHE in developing policies and guidelines that regulate higher education in Uganda.
Majority of the NCHE members are representatives of various social constituencies including public and private universities, religious organizations, commerce, industry, agriculture, the general public, the Ministry of Education and people with disabilities.
The Council members are appointed under Section 7 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 including the appointment by President, and the Vice Chairperson elected by the Council members.
It also comprises of two representative of Vice-Chancellors of public and private Universities, two Senates Representative Private and public Universities, four representative of religious non-degree awarding institutions appointed by the minister of Education and three Representative from Commerce, industry and Agricultural Sector.
Other four members of other sectors of higher education, one representative of the public elected by the Council, one representative of people with disabilities, an officer in charge of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, two Representatives of Students from Tertiary and Universities plus the NCHE’s Executive Director.
Speaking to URN about the appointment, Professor Katunguka said it was a sign of trust from the appointing authority.
“I welcome this appointment and it is a sign of trust from the appointing authority. It is a huge responsibility to guide the development of higher education in the country. We shall need the support and goodwill of all the actors in this sector and other sectors that impact on higher education,” Prof Katunguka said on Wednesday.
