By KT Reporter
Makerere University has registered another round of resignations, with several academic staff opting to leave Uganda’s premier institution. The departures, according to staff who spoke to our reporter, reflect growing unrest among lecturers and senior faculty, signalling deeper concerns within the university.
A document signed by the Chief Human Resource Officer and obtained by our reporter shows that the Appointments Board, in a meeting held on Thursday, September 25, approved the resignation of 18 staff members, including 12 academic staff ranging from assistant lecturers to professors.
Among them is Professor Jacob Godfrey Agea from the Department of Extension and Innovation Studies and Associate Professor Wilber Manyisa Aheba from the Department of Forestry, Biodiversity, and Tourism. The board accepted Prof. Agea’s resignation but instructed him to clear outstanding utility bills before formally leaving the university.
Other departing staff include Dr. Marion Alina, a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication; Dr. Simon Echegu, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies; Dr. Clement Nabuuto Lutaaya, a senior lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science; and Dr. Alex Samuel Bamunoba, a senior lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, among others.
Some of the resigning staff will receive payment in lieu of notice, with varying terms—three months for some, two months for others, and one month for a few. The board did not indicate any arrangements for the rest. One staff member noted that the list is likely incomplete, suggesting that several colleagues have already submitted resignation letters but were missing, either because their letters had not yet reached the board or were filed after a specific cut-off date.
“The real number is higher. The university has a serious problem and it’s only growing. The reasons for departure might vary from one person to another,” the staff member said. Those who remain at the university are increasingly reluctant to speak out. Even prominent voices within the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) now tread carefully, fearing reprisals.
Another staff member, speaking anonymously, said Makerere is rapidly losing its appeal as an employer of choice. “Other institutions, including newer public universities, are now preferred. Employment systems there are fairer and more law-abiding, so people feel they can grow their careers better outside Makerere,” the source noted.
Meanwhile, as 18 staff members exit, the Appointments Board has confirmed new hires, bringing 54 staff members into university service. Most of the appointments are in non-teaching positions, while about 26 are academic staff, the majority at assistant lecturer’s levels.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
