KAMPALA – In a major slap on the face to Makerere University Business School Council Chairman Prof. Venansious Baryamureeba, President Museveni directed for the re-appointment of Prof Waswa Balunywa as the Principal of the Nakawa based business school.
Prof. Baryamureeba had on Monday convened a Council meeting that replaced Prof. Balunywa who has led MUBS since its inception in 1997, with his deputy Prof. Moses Muhwezi but Mr Museveni in an un-equivocal directive, has ordered the First Lady, who is also Minister if Education to re-appoint the amiable MUBS chief, who Prof. Baryamureeba argued was due for retirement over age.
“I am directing you to re-appoint Prof. Balunywa,” Mr Museveni wrote to his wife, arguing that the MUBS boss has always been on the right side of the liberation ideology and has given the MUBS institution good leadership without strikes.
“I have never found him averse to advice the few times I have interacted with him. Such a person is always good to work with,” Mr Museveni wrote.
The fresh vote of confidence extends Balunywa’ tenure at the helm of the government institution to more than a decade.
In an earlier April 29 letter to Janet, the President said Prof Balunywa has served diligently and there is no reason why he should not continue.
“Since Prof Balunywa is a serious implementer of programmes and a serious educationist whose institution has never seen part of the indiscipline of strikes, etc, I have no objection to his re-appointment if all other factors are in order,” Mr Museveni’s letter reads in part.
On April 11, the First Lady had directed the Education Service Commission, which is the appointing body, to kick start the process of finding Prof Balunywa’s replacement since his five-year contract was set to expired on May 3.
The development is a major victory for Prof. Balunywa over his one time friend Prof. Baryamureeba, turned erstwhile rival. Prof. Baryamureeba hard argued he would push Balunywa out saying he was ineligible. But Prof. Balunywa will now have the last laugh.