Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, the chairperson Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) is set to resume his duties after completing his six months’ suspension over indiscipline and inciting violence.
While speaking about his plans after completing the suspension, Dr. Kamunyu vowed that as soon as he returns to Makerere University, he will resume his fight for academic freedoms and freedoms of expression, the same reasons that led to his suspension.
He maintains that his punishment was historical and has put a dent on the staff industrial relations and the university stature.
Kamunyu also revealed that he was disappointed by the way the legitimate authority in the Appointments Board handled his issue with intention to hurt him by using indiscipline as a cover-up to serious issues that him and other staff members were raising.
The MUASA leader says he is returning strong and ready to move staff towards projects of unity, improved welfare and better working relations.
It should be recalled that Dr. Kamunyu was suspended on January 17, 2019 following a disagreement between staff associations at the University and the administration led by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe which led to the dismissal of more than 45 senior academic staff members.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere University vice-Chancellor accused the MUASA leader of inciting staff and indiscipline. He further accused him of continuing to engage in acts that amount to gross misconduct despite receiving several warnings from management.
They demanded an immediate reinstatement of their leaders including Kamunyu, Bennet Magara, the chairperson of Makerere Administrative Staff Association (MASA), and his general secretary, Joseph Kalema, who had been suspended too for alleged indiscipline and inciting fellow staff.
Kamunyu’s suspension was briefly lifted after he ran to court. His case was later sent to the appointments board for further investigation. It is this appointments board that received, heard and ruled on five charges the academic staff leader was accused of committing and later convicted him on one.
Among other cases, Kamunyu had been accused of taking part in an illegal strike, use of abusive or insulting language, acts or omissions prejudicial to the proper performance of duties or university’s image, slander and non-adherence to any other university policies contrary to the university human resources manual.
In its ruling, the Appointments Board Disciplinary Committee declined to dismiss Kamunyu as had been requested by the university authorities to deter similar conduct among other staff in the future. It is after deliberations that the team settled for six months with half pay and any other emoluments. He was also barred from accessing his office at Makerere University.
