Makerere University has kicked off the search for a new Vice chancellor to replace Prof John Dumba Sentamu who assumed the office in September 2012 taking over from former presidential candidate in the 2016 elections Prof Venansius Baryamureeba.
The Ugandan understands that the university council has today held a meeting to to put in place a committee of members to oversee the appointment of the next VC.
Pro Ddumba who has had a rocky tenure as VC is eligible for a second term in office but has indicated that he won’t seek another term.
According to Uganda’s oldest university rules, a vice chancellor is allowed to hold two terms, each going for five years.
Following today’s first meeting by the university council, another meeting by the senate will sit next week to select more members of the search committee.
After the senate meeting, a fully-fledged committee will be ready to start the process of looking for suitable candidates including advertising the job in various media outlets.
Just last month during the recent graduation ceremony, Prof Ddumba indicated that his first term was running out, thanking those that he has worked with.
Prof Ddumba who used the occasion to bid farewell to staff and students insinuated that his term had been a tough one although he didn’t give details.
Last month, The Ugandan reported about Prof Ddumba’s bad working relationship with the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration Prof Banarbas Nawangwe.
Analysts observe that such a rocky relationship with Prof Nawangwe and others have made it difficult for Prof Ddumba to seek another term.
Prof Nawangwe understood to be interested in Prof Ddumba’s job.
Prof Ddumba’s highlights
- During Prof Ddumba’s tenure as VC, the university has been closed twice; in 2013 and last year when following persistent strikes by students and workers on both occasions.
- Also, you can’t ignore the Dr Stella Nyanzi saga when academic researcher Mahmood Mamdan closed her officer and Nyanzi, who is a relative to Prof Ddumba undressed in broad day light.
Who is Prof Ddumba
- Ddumba is a Professor of Economics and former Dean, Faculty of Economics and Management, which later merged with the Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics to form the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), where also served as the first Acting Principal.
- As a Vice-Chancellor, he has been responsible for the academic, administrative and financial affairs of the University.
