Photo: Taddeo Bwambale/New Vision Kyambogo — Even after being 'voted out of office' by the majority on the university council recently, he still remains in office, but only on the loose end.
The fate of Kyambogo vice chancellor Prof. Isaiah Omolo Ndiege hangs in balance since the university council is yet to forward its decision to the chancellor for the final word.
The council under the chairmanship of John Okedi resolved to sack Ndiege using the simple majority rule on October 31 and thereafter, the staff demanded that the university appoints a vice chancellor who respects them.
But the law (University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001) stipulates that the council has to forward their recommendation to the chancellor, Dr. Eric Adriko, who will make the final decision.
But this comes at the backdrop of two probe reports clearing Ndiege.
Probe reports by the Parliamentary sectoral committee on education and sports as well as the Kyambogo adhoc committee cleared Ndiege of wrongdoing.
A section of 'concerned university staff' led by one Juma Kaliisa have also launched a relentless defence for Ndiege saying he is innocent.
The group calls for dialogue as a solution to the infighting that has dogged the university for over five years turning Ndiege into 'a victim of circumstances'.
Alupo comments
However, education minister Jessica Alupo said neither her ministry, nor Parliament can interfere with the decision of the council.
"The University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (2001) gives the university council powers to recommend to the chancellor the removal of the vice chancellor, but is silent about the role of Parliament or the education ministry," she explained.
Alupo said the same Act vests powers to make the final decision about removal of vice chancellors into the hands of chancellors, once the council has forwarded a recommendation.
In effect, the council's decision renders the Parliamentary and adhoc committee reports irrelevant.
What Chancellor Adriko says
But when contacted, the Kyambogo chancellor (Adriko) said he had not yet received any correspondence from the university council.
"These are very weighty issues and I can only act after I have got official communication from the council."
Adriko, however, said there is always a caretaker vice chancellor because the University's succession policy is very clear.
In the absence of a vice chancellor, the policy provides that one of the vice chancellors takes over in acting capacity until a substantive vice chancellor is appointed.
Adriko has on several occasions attempted to intervene in the issues at the university in order to enhance harmony, but in vain. The issues include, among others, accusations of; nepotism, corruption, forgery and bribery for marks.
Adriko and the education ministry officials attempted to intervene but with little success.
Not even the intervention of the state minister for Ethics and Integrity Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo in April this year could solve the impasse.
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