Nawangwe criticized for suspending Deans’ Forum

The Joint Staff Associations of Makerere University are outraged after the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, suspended the Deans’ Forum.

In a letter dated 29 May 2024 to the Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Nawangwe questioned the legality of the Deans Forum and suspended it.

“Until the legality of this forum is clarified, all activities of the forum are hereby suspended,” Nawangwe’s letter said.

In a strongly worded response, the Joint Staff called on the Vice Chancellor to revoke his suspension from a prominent academic forum and reconsider his frequent use of suspensions.

They said Nawangwe should have investigated before taking action.

“The Joint Staff Associations of Makerere University strongly object to your decision to suspend all activities of the Deans’ Forum in your letter dated 29 May 2024 to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs),” said the letter signed by MUASA Chairman Dr Robert Kakuru, MASA Chairman Bennet Magara and NUEI Acting Chairman Isaac Okello in response to Nawangwe’s decision.

The Deans Forum, whose overall goal is to promote academic excellence through collective action, capacity building and leveraging each other’s skills, experiences and best practices, is just one of hundreds of informal associations at Makerere University.

These associations, which Makerere staff say contribute greatly to the university’s vision, are protected by Article 29 of the Constitution. They say Nawangwe is not above the law to dissolve the forum.

“The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995), as amended, does not give you any power to disregard Article 29 and you must not treat the Deans Forum differently from similar associations such as the Makerere Academic Leaders’ Forum and the Professors’ Forum of which you are a member.”

In order to contribute to the work of the University and to develop their full potential, staff members, like students, need the assurance that the exercise of their freedom of association, freedom of conscience, etc. will not bring them into conflict with the University administration.

They said Nawangwe’s suspension of the Deans’ Forum and other cases, such as his order to investigate the law school’s L1210 exam concerning the controversies surrounding Parliament and Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, would inevitably deprive staff and students of their freedom of association, conscience and speech.

“Moreover, even when eventually lifted, such measures leave indelible scars of self-censorship that adversely affect the productivity of staff and students. Even though many of your suspensions have been found inappropriate and lifted by the Appointments Committee, the Staff Tribunal and the Supreme Court, these suspensions have left indelible tarnish on the image of the University,” the Makerere staff letter read.

The researchers added that while they generally expect and accept that their work will be subject to scrutiny and that they are subject to legal accountability obligations, they are also entitled to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence.

“It is therefore irresponsible that you have decided to suspend a forum with such noble members and such high standards based on mere complaints from people you have not named and which have not been investigated, let alone substantiated. The suspension of the Deans’ Forum, if at all, should have followed investigations and not the other way around. You should also have had the legal authority to suspend the forum. Otherwise, you appear to be using the review of the legality of the Dean’s Forum as a pretext for illegal actions. This reflects poorly on the University.”

The staff demanded that Nawangwe revoke his “controversial” suspension from the Deans Forum.

They also called on the Vice-Chancellor to refrain from attitudes and actions that undermine the fundamental human rights and academic freedoms of the members of Makerere University.

Makerere academic staff threatened to contact human rights organizations and impose sanctions against Nawangwe.