Two Makerere University dons have petitioned the High Court in Kampala and asked it to compel the chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera to appoint principals to the college of Agriculatural and Environmental Sciences, college of Veterinary Medicine, and a deputy principal for the college of Humanities.
The chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera
On Friday, History don Dr Fred Odoi-Tanga and Deus Kamunyu filed an application for a judicial review through Ssekaana Associated Advocates and Consultants.
Kagonyera is listed as the respondent. The duo has sworn affidavits, saying Kagonyera’s actions have affected the administration of the university.Kamunyu is assistant lecturer college of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
“It is in the interest of justice that the respondent(Kagonyera) should be ordered to appoint the successful candidates for the positions of principals and deputy principals,”Odoi- Tanga states.
Court documents show that the university senate set up two search committees to select suitable candidates for the positions in various colleges, in accordance with the College Statutes and Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act.
In its 147th senate meeting held on February 20, 2013, the search commitee results were endorsed and results of the search process were forwarded to the university council. In a letter dated March 19,2013, the council forwarded to Kagonyera names of the successful candidates.
But they accuse Kagonyera of discriminatory and selective appointments, saying he only appointed a principal for the college of Humanities, plus deputy principals for colege of Veterinary Medicine, and that of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The dons contend that their lawyers have informed them that Kagonyera’s actions are unlawful, and that court can compel him to act in accordance with his mandate.
The case file has been allocated to Justice Yasin Nyanzi. Kagonera is yet to file his reponse. However, a hearing date is yet to be scheduled.
By Andante Okanya, The New Vision
