Candidates aspiring for the seat of Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, are capitalising their campaigns on their ability to solicit donor support for education standards, increasing the welfare of the staff and eliminating strikes.
The three aspirants are; Professor Ely Katunguka Rwakishaya, the director of research and Graduate Training, Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, economist and director of Reeve Consult and Professor Edward Kirumira, the acting deputy principle in the college of humanities and social sciences.
The trio is challenging Professor Venansius Baryamueeba, who has expressed interest to retain the seat.
Early March, Eng. DR. Charles Wana Etyem, the chairperson of the university council approved the process for the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor, ending the two and half years of professor Baryamureeba occupying the seat in the acting position.
But professor Baryamureeba says he is likely to retain his seat saying that the process shall just have to confirm him depending on his vast experience in the office of the acting vice chancellor.
Professor Ely Katunguka Rwakishaya, on the other hand told Uganda Radio Network that his candidature is based on the desire to emphasize teamwork, to sort out the administrative challenges affecting the university. He explains that the current administration is faced with the challenges of addressing the concerns affecting the university including student’s strikes.
Katunguka also says the new university administration needs to address practical education and research, to meet the international standards. He says in the 10 year strategic plan Makerere is striving to be the centre of academic excellence.
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He says as a director of research and graduate training, he has created a network of international researchers and scholars that shall help in transform Makerere to meet international university.
Katunguka also believes that his vast experience with donor agencies including the Swedish International Development Agency shall help him to solicit for donor support.
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Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, a senior economist working with Reeve Consult and former chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association, says if appointed, he would improve the staff welfare, by increasing their salaries, and foster reforms for academic excellence.
Prof Nuwagaba, believes that the solutions to the financial problems to Makerere University can be solved by creating an endowment fund, where the university collects donations and grants from the former students holding big offices to boost the academic excellence.
Nuwagaba points out Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki as one of the alumni who would be able to contribute to the endowment fund.
Like Katunguka, Nuwagaba believes the administration is hit by lack of teamwork.
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Professor Edward Kirumira, the acting deputy principle college of humanities and social sciences, told Uganda Radio Network, that from his experience, the search committee can decide to come out with its own terms and conditions for interested parties, in a person interested in taking up the position.
Professor Kirumira seats on two committees including the Makerere University 10 year strategic plan and the one the committee implementing the reorganization of colleges.
Kirumira says during the appointment of Professor Livingstone Luboobi, as the Makerere vice chancellor, he sat on the search committee, and they had powers to set out their terms and preferences on suitable candidates
He says he shall only be able to pronounce his interests in contesting for the big office, after establishing the people on the search committee.
The university senate is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, to elect three of its officials to sit on the search committee.
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