The Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Prof Juma Wasswa Balunywa last weekend bid farewell to the staff, friends and well-wishers of the University.
Whereas the academician didn’t reveal his next course of action, speculation was high that he is headed to Bank of Uganda to succeed Dr. Louis Kasekende and Deputy Governor.
Kasekende’s term ended January 14, but efforts to convince the President to extend his contract were futile. Left with no hopes, last Friday Kasekende who served the institution for close to 30 years bid farewell to the staff of the bank.
A day after, Balunywa who reports indicated he had been tipped to replace Kasekende also said bye to MUBS staff.
Prof. Balunywa once served on the board of directors of Bank of Uganda but above all, it is his result oriented economic policies that have turned MUBS from Uganda College of Commerce (UCC) Nakawa to leading business school in the country.
Last years, Prof. Balunywa met President Yoweri kaguta Museveni at Rwakitura, where he led a delegation of MUBS staff and council members to meet the president and First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports over the long standing salary increment in public universities.
With Balunywa set to take over the Deputy Governor slot, it means he has to leave his role as MUBS Principal.
And last week, a farewell party to thank him for a job perfectly executed was held at the Nakawa campus with Bebe Cool and comedian Alex Muhangi entertaining guests.
Balunywa is a scholar in management, leadership and entrepreneurship and an academic administrator who has served as the Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) for ages.
Throughout the years, Museveni has shown admiration for Balunywa, praising him as a person that has always been on the right side of the liberation ideology.
Prof Balunywa has been credited with having revolutionized business education and spearheading the private students’ scheme in Uganda that has become a model for many universities across the country and region.
Prof Balunywa started his academic career as lecturer in 1983, in the then Department of Commerce at Makerere University. In 1987, he was appointed a senior lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Banking and Finance, also at Makerere, serving there from 1987 until 1990.
He then served as Dean Faculty of Commerce, Makerere University from 1991 to 1998. In 1997, he was instrumental in the creation of Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
MUBS was created in 1997 by the merger of the former faculty of Commerce at Makerere University and the then National College of Business Studies, Nakawa. Prof. Balunywa headed MUBS at its inception in 1997 as the school’s first Director.
In 1998, the position of Director was changed to Principal. In June 2018, Waswa Balunywa began another three-year term as the Principal of MUBS.
He also served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Uganda and national banking regulator, from 2001 until 2012.