KAMPALA – The Principal of Makerere University Business School, Prof Waswa Balunywa, has warned Dr. Isaac Wanzige Magoola, the Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration, whom he has suspended for, among others, insubordination and use of an abusive language over plans to forcefully remain in office.
Prof Balunywa suspended Dr Magoola from duty on half-pay for disregarding an earlier suspension as Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.
“I am in receipt of your letter of August 7, 2019, in response to my letter to you of August 6, 2019. I have in the past warned you about usage of an abusive language and attacking individuals in your various correspondences. You have in the past attacked me personally, my family and members in the School Community. I find this conduct unacceptable. Your letter to me and also to the Chairman, Appointments Board, leaves me with no choice but to suspend you from the School Service for gross misconduct, demeaning my personality and that of my Appointing Authority, the Fountain of Honor in the country,” Prof Balunywa’s letter dated August 8 to Dr Magoola reads in part.
“There is need for order in the School and your continuous incitement of staff must be brought to its logical conclusion. As I table this matter at the Appointments Board, you are suspended from the position of Senior Lecturer in the School Service at half pay, to pave way for investigations and to enable you have an opportunity to be heard. This suspension takes immediate effect. I note that you want to stay in office forcefully, I am sure you understand the consequences of such an action,” he added.
On August 6, the Principal suspended Dr Magoola as Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration.
In the letter, the Principal indicated that Dr Magoola cannot be dean and at the same serve as acting chairman of Makerere University Business Academic Staff Association (MUBASA).
“I have received a copy of your letter of even date to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service which you author as Acting Chairman of MUBASA. You were elected, appointed and you now serve as Dean of the Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration and therefore you serve as part of top Management in the School. You recently chaired the MUBASA meeting and you have now authored a letter as Acting Chairman,” the Principal’s letter to Dr Magoola dated August 6, 2019 reads in part.
“You will appreciate that as principal, I have no business in election and appointment of the leadership of MUBASA. Your letter makes your position as Dean of the Faculty untenable and shows a conflict of interest. This is, therefore, to suspend you from the position of Dean of Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration with effect from the date of this letter. I will be referring this matter to the MUBS Appointments Board for their information and action,” he adds.
But Dr Magoola, in a letter dated August 7, said that Prof Balunywa has no powers to suspend him.
“I am (a) a Senior Lecturer with a right to associate under MUBASA which entitles me to vote and be voted (b) 1 am an academic staff with a right to vote for academic leaders and be voted in such leadership positions provided I qualify. Thus (i) I was elected Deputy Vice Chairperson MUBASA and when the Chairperson resigned I automatically became the acting Chairperson until elections are held on August 19, 2019 (ii) I was elected Dean, Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration and appointed effective July 1, 2018,” he said.
“I am not the first or last to lead a staff association as well as serve in management. At MUBS Dr. Annet Nabatanzi, Dr. Akampumuza and Dr. Arthur Ahimbisibwe were chairpersons as well as members of the MUBS Management Committee. At Kyambogo, Rev. Dr. Grace Lubaale is a Head of Department and Chairperson, KYUASA. Associate Professors Muhammad Ngoma and Vincent Bagire, as well as Dr. Ernest Abaho, have served on the MUBASA executive at the same time as on the Management Committee. On the current MUBASA executive, Dr. Isaac Nkote, Dr. Stephen Nkundabanyanga and Dr. Kitui Mayoka are members of management.
“From the above, it is clear that you have singled me out for victimization following a personal vendetta you have waged against me for many years because of my knack to always point out your nakedness. This is evidenced by; a. My insistence on a forensic human resource audit which will reveal people closely related to you whom you have elevated to Lecturers when they have pass and lower second degrees and you,” he added.
