MUBS Drama: Principal Balunywa Reported to Museveni for Recruiting ‘Unqualified Spouses’ as Lecturers

Drama at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) has taken unprecedented shift after Business Faculty Dean Dr. Isaac Wanzige Magoola petitioned President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni over the conduct of his boss Principal Wasswa Balunywa which he says threatens to ruin leading business institution.

The petition sent to State House on Wednesday is titled “the abuses at Makerere University Business School (Mubs) which threaten to ruin this Leading Business School and demand for conducting a forensic human resource audit at MUBS.”

Giving a background, way forward and conclusion Mr. Magoola highlights a number of claims in his letter:

1. There are more than 200 underpaid academic staff who have not been enhanced due to management’s omissions
2. MUBS management has failed to regularize the payment of these staff through the established channels by Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development which include recruiting staff on replacement basis or obtaining a certificate of clearance
3. MUBS continuing to recruit more staff under this category thus exacerbating the problem claiming that student numbers have increased yet the payment for the underpaid lecturers does not commensurately increase.
4. The Principal has illegally appointed people with pass and lower second degrees some of whom are his spouses and children to positions of Lecturer. Ile says the President supports him in this. Some of us find this despicable and do not believe our President supports this abuse. We demand a human resource audit to establish this.
5. The academic staff through their staff association MUI3ASA have engaged the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service, Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development on the same matter and have also laid down tools twice in June 2018 and currently from July 2019 but instead of solving the problem management is threatening to lay off over 200 underpaid academic staff who were confirmed in School Service on permanent terms.

From the above it is evident what is needed is to answer the question of the underpaid staff and conduct a forensic human resource audit.

 Way forward

Now therefore, the Makerere University Business School Academic Staff Association (MUBASA);

AWARE that the overwhelming majority of MUBS academic staff are underpaid, are dissatisfied and will not offer top notch services to students.

MINDFUL of the fact that MUBS has about 18, 000 students constituting one half of all Makerere University Students.

COGNIZANT of the danger of unleashing underpaid, disgruntled and disinterested academic staff to Uganda’s top notch personnel supposed to drive Uganda to middle income status.

CONVERSANT with the requirements of equity regarding equity theory and its imperative in driving motivation in accordance with the government’s pay policy.

CONSIDERING the training and orientation of the existing academic staff, the contribution to this training by MUBS and the losses MUBS will incur in laying off these staff and recruiting and training new people including the years it will take, as management is contemplating.

 CONSISTENT with the role of staff associations under the Universities and other tertiary institutions Act 2001 (as amended in, 2003 and 2006) to wit. promotion of the academic and welfare interests of their respective members.

WE the Makerere University Business Staff Academic Staff Association (MUBASA) petition you to ensure

1. A win- win solution that is the, inclusion of the MUBS underpaid staff in the enhanced category
2. The conduct of a forensic human resource audit and placement of all staff in their right positions.
3. The prevention of the Principal from victimizing people struggling for their rights using President’s name as his friend and persistent appointing authority We are all Ugandans with constitutional rights and it is unacceptable for Professor Balunywa to claim that President Museveni has given him a right to invoke his name every time he rides rough shod over MUBS staff, we demand this permit to Professor Balunywa in writing from you Your Excellency.

 Conclusion

Strategic advantages indicated in the background and way forward have to be implemented for good of Uganda. Moreover, the major stakeholders in the current status, students, parents and staff stand to lose if the positive suggestions requested for are not implemented. For students their academic progression will suffer as they will graduate later than expected. This will punish the parents or guardians who will have to pay more fees.

This background informs our prayers as an association that MUBS and government handles our demands.