Kampala — The inspectorate of government is investigating the Principal of Makerere University Business School, Prof Waswa Balunywa, over claims that he unlawfully removed three senior officials from their positions.

The trio is Dr James Akampumuza, the former dean of the faculty of commerce, Dr Isaac Nkote, the erstwhile head of the department of Finance and Mr Eddy Karobbuza Tukamushabe, who headed the department of Leisure and Hospitality.

The IGG is also investigating claims that Prof. Balunywa plans to victimise his deputy, Dr Julius Kakuru, by subjecting him to an illegal removal process under the guise of competitive interviews for the post that are being conducted by the Education Service Commission, an institution with no mandate to appoint the Mubs Deputy Principal.

In an October 30, 2008 letter to the Chairman of the Mubs School Council, Dr Colin Ssentongo, the deputy IGG, Mr Raphael Baku, directed Prof. Balunywa to reinstate the sacked officials until the matter is resolved by the university's appointments board and the Council. The squabbles at Mubs have also been brought to the attention of President Museveni.

On October 28, disenchanted senior officials at the University wrote a seven-page report to the president. The officials accuse Prof Balunwya of undermining the Secretary to the Mubs Council, creating illegal academic structures at Mubs without consultation or authorisation, engaging and promoting 'questionable' persons, undermining faculty set ups, nepotism and sectarianism as well as ruling by intimidation.

"Prof. Balunywa intimidates people invoking your title as his appointing authority when he is committing these actions mentioned above. He then refers whoever wishes to challenge him to the appointing authority. That is how he has effectively undermined all organs of Mubs," the officials told Mr Museveni.

The report further says there is lack of transparency within the institution, especially concerning revenue generated internally and assets of the institution. "Mubs has failed to build any structure since it was established in 1998, except for a two-storeyed lecture theatre which was put up by Makerere yet every year since 1999 we have been saving close to Shs1 billion annually from internally generated funds.

To date, there is nothing to show for this money," says the report. Prof. Balunywa could not be reached over the allegations as his phone was switched off. The University spokesperson was also not readily available by telephone. The report further claims that most of the departments of the school are being run by a clique of Muslims and Basoga who are loyal to Prof Balunywa.

"Ngoma Muhammed, who is Balunywa's nephew, was recently appointed as director of leadership centre at Bugolobi Annex, Naluwoza, who is a wife to Mr Ngoma, is a lecturer in the department of Business Computing, Kinti Ibrahim who is a brother to Balunywa is an administrator in the faculty commerce...," says the report, which the officials conclude by calling on Mr Museveni to remove Prof Balunywa as Principal of Mubs.