The Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, has navigated a contentious path regarding the appointment of his deputy vice-chancellors (DVCs) - academic affairs and that of finance and administration - by ringing in amendments that make it almost impossible to hire a substantive officer bearer.
Despite the university's stature as Uganda's premier institution of higher learning, and the oldest in the region, the absence of a substantive DVC in key areas—academic affairs and finance and administration—has become a matter of concern, signaling deeper institutional challenges under Nawangwe's leadership.
For nearly eight years, Nawangwe has effectively kept the roles vacant, appointing individuals to act in these capacities without moving forward with permanent appointments. This trend reached a new height with the unceremonial removal of Professor Umar Kakumba in June 2024, who had been serving as the DVC for Academic Affairs.
His application for evaluation and reappointment, in line with the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, went unanswered until his abrupt dismissal, an event that placed Nawangwe in the awkward position of simultaneously holding multiple key positions—acting Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and both deputy roles.
Four jobs!
The absence of substantive appointments has not only created leadership vacuum but also raised questions about the broader implications for Makerere's governance. Nawangwe's resistance to appointing permanent deputies appears to be part of a larger strategy to maintain control and ensure that only his loyalists occupy key positions.
Initially, it appeared like Nawangwe only wanted his loyalists to line up under him when he sat flagrantly ignored the appointment, in May 2024, of Anthony Mugisha, a professor of agriculture economics, as DVC for finance and administration.
The dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources edged Henry Alinaitwe, a professor of civil and construction engineering, to the job Nawangwe had previously tried to ringfence for Prof William Bazeyo.
However, nearly a year later in February 2025, Mugisha's appointment was annulled by a kangaroo-like University Council, whose particular sitting was preceded by Nawangwe interdicting members like Dr Deus Kamunyu to keep them out of the key meeting.
Mugisha thus never held the office that remains under the caretaker services of Prof Wilson Tumps Ireeta, who on February 20, 2025, took over from Alinaitwe after the university staff complained from the Hill to the State House about the illegality that had seen Alinaitwe hold the office in acting capacity for four years against the university policy that stipulates that one can only be a caretaker on the job for 12 months.
Effectively, the defenestration of Prof Kakumba and annulment of Mugisha's appointment means there is no substantive DVC in Makerere. the challenge is that acting officials tend to be stooges, because they are selected and removed without process, just like that.
This ongoing indecision points to a troubling pattern where acting officials lack the authority and stability necessary for effective leadership. Acting appointees are often seen as temporary figures, vulnerable to dismissal at any time, which diminishes their capacity to enact meaningful change and leads to institutional stagnation.
Moreover, the recent amendments to the qualifications for the DVC roles have raised eyebrows due to their extreme nature. Under the new criteria, candidates for the DVC for Academic Affairs position must hold a PhD and have at least 20 peer-reviewed publications indexed in renowned databases like Scopus or Web of Science.
Such stringent qualifications, coupled with a lack of precedent, suggest that the positions may be intentionally rendered unfillable, ensuring that the roles remain in acting capacity indefinitely.
This policy shift highlights a crucial concern: the academic requirements for the DVC roles are disproportionately higher than those for the Vice Chancellor, whose publication record does not come close to meeting the new standards for deputy roles.
This contradiction further complicates the landscape, raising the possibility that the university’s leadership is setting impossible standards to ensure that no one qualifies for a substantive role, thus perpetuating the cycle of temporary appointments.
The process surrounding these appointments has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and irregularities. Sources within the university suggest that the process has been manipulated to favour select individuals, with Nawangwe reportedly speaking to each of the members of the search committees before they were formally appointed.
"There is a lot that is irregular and in bad taste in the whole process. And those behind the mess have decided to stampede the processes, so that their actions are beyond oversight," said a university official.
"If you look at the terms of reference, the first is for the Senate to select search committees. But Nawangwe cane to Senate when he had already selected his errand boys, and forced Senate to approve."
Such manoeuvring undermines the integrity of the selection process, rendering it susceptible to legal challenges and potential annulments.
Despite the irregularities and apparent disregard for due process, Nawangwe's administration remains adamant about maintaining control. His actions raise a broader question about the future of Makerere University: if these positions continue to be left unfilled, the university risks losing its ability to function effectively in the long term.
The effectiveness of a Deputy Vice Chancellor is not only limited by their temporary status but by the lack of stability, continuity, and authority necessary for strong leadership.
A substantive office bearer brings legitimacy, enables strategic planning, and provides a foundation for accountability. Without such permanence, the university's ability to execute long-term goals and provide direction is severely compromised.
The failure to appoint substantive DVCs is not merely a governance issue but a fundamental challenge that threatens the integrity and future of Uganda’s oldest university.
Ultimately, the ongoing trend of appointing acting DVCs, while ensuring that they remain bound to the whims of an all-powerful Vice Chancellor, reflects an alarming disregard for institutional stability and the long-term well-being of Makerere University.
As the search for substantive appointees continues, it remains to be seen whether these issues will be addressed or if Makerere will continue to operate in a state of prolonged uncertainty.