Kampala: Former Makerere University Vice Chancellor, now chairman MUBs Council, Professor Venansius Baryamureeba has gone for former minister, Asuman Kiyingi’s intelligence in the ongoing hot debate on whether, or not, Balunywa should remain at the helm of MUBs.
“Asuman Kiyingi, your submission after my submission puts you under stupid Ugandans,” the former Presidential candidate lashed out on Facebook in a poor edited missive.
In the recent past, a section of Busoga politicians have been out there playing both the tribal and political card to ensure that 63 year old Prof Wasswa Balunywa, who is beyond the statutory retirement age is kept on as the Chancellor of the only high end government owned business school.
As if not to leave anyone guessing, and trying to cry foul about his current political coldness, the former Bugabula South legislator told his Facebook followers that some elements in government- including the outspoken former Makerere boss- are out in the sun playing tribal, religious and political chess on Prof Balunywa’s future.
“This is a classic [case] of sectarianism. The President wants professor Balunywa re-appointed as MUBS principal but a scheming Baryamureeba exploiting his ethnic and religious network is fighting to grab the job.
“Balunywa’s stellar performance record seems a secondary matter. He suffers the double tragedy of being a Musoga and a Muslim at the same time in a system that looks down upon both,” the former works minister wrote.
He further added, “I have recently been a victim of similar ethnic and religious forces though in my Cass it was compounded by Busoga’s PhD (Pull Him Down) politics. I hope this time round the president prevails over these sectarian forces holding him hostage,” Kiyingi wrote.
On reading Mr Kiyingi’s post, a clearly peeved Baryamureeba didn’t spare any adjectives, posting the Facebook active politician in Uganda’s Wall of Stupid Fame.
“Some of us are beyond stupid lobbying that involves character assassination of innocent Ugandans. Asuman Kiyingi, your submission after my submission puts you under stupid Ugandans.
“Let me now assure you that as long as I live, I shall never be stupid or support the breaking of the law of Uganda I love so dearly,” Prof Baryamureeba wrote back.
He further said it wasn’t him fighting Balunywa but rather Balunywa was hostage of the law of natural selection—above the retirement age of 60.
He further informed Kiyingi that despite the bad mouthing from Kiyingi and his ilk, he had solely recommended Balunya for another term.
“Asuman Kiyingi, you have not disputed the fact that in writing on March 5, 2018 I recommended Prof. Balunywa for reappointment and this letter was copied to him (Prof. Balunywa).
“I did this well knowing that for all public CEO positions like for Principal MUBS there is a requirement that they should be publically advertised so that there is transparency and fairness and all eligible Ugandans should be accorded an opportunity to apply and then allowed fair competition. But still recommended him for reapportionment any way as long as he met the eligibility criteria (age),” Baryamureeba wrote.
He continued, “Mind you, I did this without calling a MUBS Council meeting i.e. I did it on behalf of MUBS Council. So who are your credible sources? Prof Balunywa fanatics, tribes-mates or supporters?
“If you were not Muslim I would have asked you what alcohol you had taken that influenced your write up.”
