DR. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi the new MUASA chairperson.

Makerere university academic staff association (MUASA) elected new leaders yesterday, with Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi was declared new chairman by the MUASA Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof.  Muhammad Ntale.

According to the final poll results, Dr. Kamunyu polled 369 votes followed by Dr. Hellen Nambalirwa Nkabala with 260 votes and Dr. Frederick Lugya Kiwuwa with 53 votes.

Prof. Mwavu Nector was elected MUASA Deputy Chairperson with 454 votes after trouncing Christopher Muganga who obtained 210 votes.

Allan Ochieng was declared MUASA Public Relations Officer after garnering 453 votes. His rival Dr. Anthony Tibaingana managed 182 votes.

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Dr. Hussein Oria was elected MUASA treasurer with 315 votes. His rivals Dr. Eric Nzibonera and Charles Kitale garnered 242 and 103 votes respectively.

Dr. Michael Walimbwa beat off stiff competition from his challenger Robert Kakuru to take the seat of MUASA General Secretary. Dr. Walimbwa garnered 349 votes to beat his challenger who obtained 332 votes.

MUASA’s new chairman

Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi is currently the dean of Makerere University department of forestry, biodiversity and tourism. He intends to continue building alliances with other staff associations where there is functional necessity for the common good.

Below is the  full victory statement.

Dear Colleagues,

Today you spoke to me in a special way and we have all won. I immediately understood this to mean that in the next two years you want me to pursue MUASA objectives that you want accomplished and that this is your resounding mandate.

I have been reflecting on the tasks ahead which range from poor working conditions that we brave together each day through to salary harmonization and increment, strengthening and unifying MUASA members.

I purposed to be consultative but firm in the pursuit of the above assignments and many others well knowing that all successes of MUASA are usually strategic and aided by a united membership.

We have sometimes differed in the approach that we intend to use in pursuing a transparent and accountable university management but believe me, our methods have a lot in common. We intend to keep all tools for pursuing our fair interests on the table, well reminded that we are a pressure group that ought to safeguard itself in all circumstances.

More important, I believe in ethical leadership as a key source of trust that often builds into peaceful negotiations with industrial groups. I also believe that when a leader lacks integrity, everything in their custody gets impaired and this also undermines progress. Our leaders are struggling to embrace good governance and we cannot look on hopelessly since we are ultimately the ones to suffer and together with our students. We have often been forced to make hard decisions that have in turn affected our other stakeholders. We intend to start with us first alongside many other assignments on the table in order to demonstrate that we want to change the way we live and work for Makerere University.

I know that we were many in this race and we all wanted to serve this great association but a few have won. My message is that we need each other more than ever before. For example we have to continue working with your representatives at College level to advance teaching and research, advocate for proper prioritization of resources and ensure that there is value for money in everything we do including procurements. This way we will save money needed to motivate, improve infrastructure and invest. Organic growth is much cheaper than aided growth even amidst desire to take risks. We only need to change our attitude.

Moving forward, we will need other staff associations in the pursuance of this reform plan. We intend to continue building alliances with them where there is functional necessity for common good.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you all who participated in this historic campaign and especially those who turned up to vote. I will never take you for granted because I know you made one of your own today.

Amidst all this, I will continue counting on your prayers and God’s wisdom in the service of this great association. May God bless you for me too.

You should always remember that “We are Stronger Together”

Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi (PhD)
MUASA CHAIRPERSON Elect (2018-2020)

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