KAMPALA – The High Court has ordered Makerere University to reinstate Dr Charles Barugahare as the University’s Secretary.
The ruling was made by Justice Michael Elubu on July 13, 2020.
“The status quo as it stands today July, 13, 2020 is maintained. The two applications before the court today stand withdrawn,” reads an excerpt of the ruling.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabus Nawangwe on June 29 sent Barugahare on forced leave to pave way for investigations in several allegations, which included the controversial procurement of gowns for the university’s 70th graduation ceremony
In his suspension letter, Nawangwe notes that the University Secretary was responsible for the embarrassing gown scandal which marred the University’s 70th graduation ceremony, a claim Dr. Baruhagare vehemently described as false and concocted accusations aimed at removing him from office.
Dr. Baruhagare said he was away on study leave during that specific procurement.
In an application for judicial review filed before the High Court in Kampala on Friday, June 30, Dr. Barugahare, through his lawyers of M/s. Akampumuza & Co. Advocates, also protested his removal as the University’s Accounting Officer, and accused Prof. Nawangwe of witchhunt.
“The second respondent (Prof. Nawangwe) in all his actions is victimising me for having performed my duties and refused to bow to his pressures to approve questionable expenditures, consents, contracts and decisions that would have cost the (Makerere University) huge sums of money”, Dr. Barugahare said in his affidavit before High Court adding; “…Prof. Nawangwe orchestrated a scheme to remove me from my job of University Secretary and asked the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PS/SST) of the 4th Respondent to irregularly appoint my deputy, the 3rd Respondent as Accounting Officer effective 1/7/2020.”
Court has further ordered the respondents [Makerere University, Yusuf Kiranda, Prof. Nawangwe and Attorney General] to file their replies by July 27, 2020.
The applicant, Dr Barugahare has also been ordered to file his rejoind by July 31, 2020.
