The Makerere University appointments board (disciplinary committee) has in a final judgment regarding the case involving Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi the Chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA).
The investigators on the board have found Kamunyu guilty of some of the charges against him and as such suspended him for a period of six months in which he will receive half pay. Kamunyu is accused of inciting violence amongst staff members and publically disrespecting the Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe as well as portraying a bad image of the university.
The investigators also argue that the Kamunyu was engaged in a scuffle and a heated exchange that caused a standoff with security officers at the Vice Chancellor’s office and at the entry of the council room. Prosecution further contends that he mobilized the media to cover these actions knowing that it will portray a bad image of the university.
Kamunyu is said to have told staff members to leave a meeting claiming that the Vice Chancellor was saying nothing.
In his defence, Kamunyu denied all the charges explaining that he did what he is accused of in good faith as MUASA chairman, not as a lecturer. Kamunyu further explained that he went to the Main building to lobby the new council members on MUASA demands and that no scuffle happened that day. The five-member appointments board further ruled that instead of dismissing the MUASA leader, it has therefore decided to suspend him for six months beginning with immediate effect.
“Prosecution prayed that if this board finds the responded guilty of the charges should dismiss him from the university service so that this similar conduct is not repeated by other university staff in future. However, the board in its wisdom has decided to use its discretion as provided under section 5.8 of the Human Resource Manual of Makerere University instead of a dismissal to sentence responded to 6 months suspension with immediate effect. During the suspension, the responded shall receive half salary and any other related emoluments and should not access his office as lecturer at Makerere University,” says the document of the ruling.
Among the witnesses in the case include Prof William Bazeyo, the university Deputy Vice chancellor Finance and Administration who testified that Kamunyu told staff members to leave a meeting claiming that the Vice Chancellor was saying nothing. Bazeyo said Kamunyu needed to respect the Vice Chancellor even if he did not agree with him.
The five-member appointments board further ruled that instead of dismissing the MUASA leader, it has therefore decided to suspend him for six months beginning with immediate effect.
