Some of the contestants for the Makerere University vice-chancellorship present their petition to the academic registrar, Mr Alfred Masikye Namoah (2nd R) at the university’s main campus yesterday. They say they will not contest for the top job unless their demands are fulfilled by the VC search committee. Among their demands, they want the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, who also wants to retain the job, to first step aside. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE.

Six of the seven candidates for the vice chancellor job at Makerere University yesterday boycotted a public presentation of their plans in protest against what they allege is influence-peddling by the acting VC, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba.
The six professors – Barnabas Nawangwe, Edward Kirumira, Augustus Nuwagaba, Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya, Tonny Oyana and and John Ddumba Ssentamu – alleged that the incumbent’s continued stay in office was giving him an unfair advantage in the race.
They vowed to boycott the process unless Prof. Baryamureeba steps down as acting vice chancellor.
In a petition to Dr Stephen Maloba, the head of the search committee, the six contestants alleged that the composition of the committee favours the incumbent.
“One of the candidates, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, was advised to step down by the Solicitor General to avoid conflict of interest in the process to select the substantive Vice Chancellor, but he disregarded that advice, and hence remains Chair of Senate and Member of Council,” the petitioners wrote.
“It should be noted that two members of the Search Committee are members of Council and two are from the Senate. There are reports that this candidate is influencing the search process, including determining the dates for Senate and Council meetings to consider this important matter.”
The petitioners also argued that the acting VC “will receive the Search Committee report as Chairman of Senate and determine how and when the senate will be called to consider the report”.
Demand
The petitioners demanded the resignation of two lecturers on the search committee and the appointment of neutral persons. This is not the first time the matter of Prof. Baryamureeba’s candidature while acting in the job has stirred dissent. In a May 13 legal opinion arising out of a related petition, Ms Elizabeth Namagembe of the Solicitor General’s office, pointed to a possible case of “conflict of interest” if the acting vice chancellor and his two deputies were to vie for the same jobs they were doing.
“Our opinion, therefore, is that if the acting Vice Chancellor (Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba) and deputy vice chancellors (Professors Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza and Sande Tickodri-Togboa) are interested in holding the posts substantively, they should step down from the offices,” she wrote.
She advised, however, that they could stay in office and vie if they did “not participate in any issues regarding the search for substantive holders for this is clearly a conflict of interest for them to participate in the search for substantive holders of the posts they are holding.”
No evidence has been provided to show whether Prof. Baryamureeba has actively participated in the search or influenced the decisions of the committee.
In a response to the petition by the six candidates, Dr Maloba said: “The concern over the Solicitor General’s opinion for Prof. Baryamureeba to step down lies outside the mandate of the Search Committee. The Search Committee wishes to affirm that it is doing its work professionally and in the most transparent manner.”
Prof. Baryamureeba said yesterday: “If they want me to resign my position, they should first of all do so because they are all members of staff.”
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