Makerere leaders, dons should relate better

Makerere University is in the news once again. The matter, just like it was at the start of the year, is a squabble between the top administration of the institution and the leadership of workers’ association, particularly the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (Muasa).

In the latest development, Dr Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, the chairperson of Muasa, was suspended from the university service for six months. The cause, as it was spelt out by the university administration, is that he made allegations against top leaders of the university.
Earlier in the year, the university’s workers went on strike, citing the suspension of Dr Kamunyu and leaders of other workers’ associations by the vice chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe. The strike was suspended when, after protracted negotiations, the university administration undertook to launch an investigation into the matter, which resulted in the decision to suspend Dr Kamunyu but absolved the others.

It also absolved Dr Kamunyu on a number of allegations for which Prof Nawangwe had suspended him.
When the members of Muasa met again on Friday, a number of them felt the need to resume the strike until Dr Kamunyu’s suspension is lifted.
Speaking to members of Muasa, the picture that emerges is that they think that Prof Nawangwe and his team are bent on breaking the back of Muasa and turn Makerere University into an institution that is governed by decree.

They accuse Prof Nawangwe of meddling in the management of student affairs with a good measure of success, and after that launching an assault on the management of workers’ affairs at the university.
The interpretation that some members of staff make has political undertones. They believe that Prof Nawangwe’s aim is to tame Makerere University into an institution that the political leadership in country can easily manipulate to its wishes.
Those opposed to Prof Nawangwe will dig in, as indeed they have for the time he has been in office. On the other hand, Prof Nawangwe has been steadfast in the pursuit of his goals and has proved unwavering in his beliefs.

This squabbling has been costly, particularly to the students and parents who are not part of it. For instance, the end of semester examinations that kick off this week were delayed because the learners lost time at the beginning of the semester.
The academic staff declared a strike over Dr Kamunyu’s suspension but Prof Nawangwe kept denying that it was happening!