Kadaga seeks cancellation of Makerere DVC appointments over gender discrimination

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has advised Makerere University authorities to annul the recent deputy Vice Chancellor appointments over gender imbalance.

“I have realized that they are all men, so the entire leadership of Makerere University is skewed,” Kadaga said.

The speaker therefore tasked the Committee on Education and Sports to analyse the University decision and guide on how best the can revoke the appointments.

“This is really perpetuating an imbalance; there are very many structure and institutional imperfections within the university that make it difficult for highly qualified women serving the university to compete and take up these leadership positions,” She said.

The University Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma basing on the recommendation from the University Council, had Last week, appointed Dr Umar Kakumba and Prof. William Bazeyo as the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs and Finance and Administration respectively.

Dr Kakumba replaced Prof Ernest Okello Ogwang while Prof Bazeyo replaces Prof Edward Kirumura following his appointment as Head of South Africa’s Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study.

The speaker also spotted unfairness in managerial role distribution as the 27 top positions at the university; from the college principals to the Vice Chancellor,  Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and up to the President are occupied by men.

“This is in contradiction to the constitution and Principal No. 11 of the national objectives and principals of the state which requires the state to recognise the significant role women play in our country,” the Speaker said.

It is on this grounds that Kadaga saw a need for “better participation and equity.”