In a twist of events that could rival a telenovela, Makerere University’s Joint Staff Associations have taken center stage in a theatrical showdown, challenging the appointment of Innocent Kihika as the Uganda Law Society-ULS representative to the University Appointments Board.
Kihika’s journey to the coveted position began with a nomination by none other than Uganda Law Society President Benard Oundo. A request from University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda to nominate a representative led to Kihika’s shot at fame, replacing the former occupant, Jude Mbabali.
However, Mbabali’s dramatic exit was far from graceful, as he raised the alarm that his four-year term, generously bestowed upon him by the exalted former President of the law society, Simon Peter Kinobe, had not yet reached its climactic conclusion. But fear not, the drama continued as Civil Division Judge Musa Sekaana stepped in to cast judgment. The ruling came down like a ton of bricks, declaring Kinobe’s actions as flawed for nominating a representative whose term was short-lived like a summer fling.
Not to be outdone, the joint staff associations, including Makerere University Academic Staff Association, Makerere Administrative Staff Association, and the National Union of Education Institutions, decided to join the theatrical fray. They cunningly cited past mishaps of the Appointments Board to challenge Kihika’s rise to fame.
During Kihika’s short-lived reign as a replacement for the esteemed Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who had ascended to the position of Attorney General, the plot took an intriguing twist.
The staff associations accused Kihika of partaking in ill-fated decisions, resulting in the summary dismissal of the Director of Legal Affairs and the Director of Human Resources. An act that proved to be as illegal as parking in a no-parking zone. The University Staff Appeals tribunal later swooped in like the cavalry to rescue the officers and ordered their reinstatement.
In a dramatic twist, the staff associations questioned Kihika’s ability to advise the University on legal matters, pointing to a case where he allegedly turned his back on sound legal counsel.
The Director of Legal Affairs had wisely suggested settling a legal matter outside the courtroom, but Kihika danced to a different beat, leaving the University to face a hefty compensation ruling against them. Kihika’s alleged antics left the staff associations convinced that he was no legal maestro to represent the ULS on the prestigious University Appointments Board.
But the story doesn’t end there! The staff associations were not content with just one villain; they also rejected the return of Jude Mbabali to the scene. Mbabali’s previous performance during the board’s term was far from award-winning, and his apparent failure to highlight and denounce an alleged illegal scheme left the staff associations less than amused.
In a shocking resolution, the staff associations pleaded with the Uganda Law Society to take its nomination process more seriously, lest they unleash more drama on the unsuspecting stage of the Appointments Board.
As the curtains draw to a close on this theatrical episode, it remains to be seen how this saga will unfold. Will Innocent Kihika’s nomination survive the barrage of objections, or will the Appointments Board turn into a full-blown soap opera? Only time will tell in this riveting tale of academic politics and power plays. Stay tuned!
