The search for a new Vice Chancellor of Makerere University has begun in earnest with the appointment of two officials to head the committee.
University Council Vice Chairman, lawyer and rights activist Irene Ovonji Odida, has been named alongside Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, to head the search committee, whose five-man composition will become complete in the next two weeks following the naming of the other three persons.
The current Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu’s five-year renewable tenure ends in August this year, and he is eligible to retain the post if the committee deems it fit.
So far no names have come up and, by press time it was not possible to establish whether Prof. Ssentamu will seek ‘another term’.
Since inception as a Technical College in 1922, Makerere has had 15 top administrators among them seven Principals and eight substantive and acting Vice Chancellors.
Former Uganda President Yusuf Kironde Lule was the first indigenous Principal of Makerere College, while Frank Kalimuzo was the first Ugandan Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.
Other VCs, acting and substantive include Prof. Asavia Wandira (1973-1975, 1979-1986); Prof. Senteza Kajubi (VC, 1977-1979, 1990-1993) ; Prof. Barnabas George Kirya (VC, April 1986-November 1990); Prof. Pancas John Mukasa Lubowa Ssebuwufu(VC, 1993-2004) ; Prof. Livingstone Serwadda Luboobi (2004- Nov 2009) ; Prof.Lilian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza  Acting Vice Chancellor(April – Oct, 2009); Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba  Acting Vice Chancellor (Nov 2009 – August 2012), and Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu (2012 -).
