MAKERERE STAFF PETITION PARLIAMENT OVER DISMISSAL OF COLLEAGUES

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In Kampala
Makerere University lecturers have taken their fight for colleagues who were recently kicked out from the institution over indiscipline, absenteeism and laziness; petitioning Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to cause a committee hearing into the matter.
In the history of Makerere University, Appointments Board had never dismissed staff the way Mr. Bruce Kabaasas Appointments Board did, reads the petition to Kadaga.
On December 22, 2018, staff woke up to shocking news that 47 members of staff were dismissed, terminated or suspended.
These include two Makerere Administrative Staff Association (MASA) leaders suspended for acting on behalf their members and of 45 Academic Staff whom government had spent a lot of money in training to the level of Masters and PhD.
The petitioners said, The affected staff was subjected to a sham disciplinary procedure that culminated in their suspensions, termination or dismissal. The decisions of the Appointments Board was circulated the Universitys Employment Division Office on the General Staff and Academic Staff mailing lists on social media without the affected staff being communicated to.
However, Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabus Nawangwe said all disciplinary cases arose out of decisions of the University Appointments Board acting in accordance with Section 50 (3) & (4) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (UOTIA) (2001 as amended).
Speaking at a press briefing at Makerere University, Nawangwe added: In line with the aforementioned sections, I wish to inform the public that the majority of those cases affected are staff who absconded from duty, some as far back as 2010.
He said the Appointments Board was, in line with its mandate, clearing a backlog of disciplinary cases.
However, the petitioners say the Appointments Board and the University also owe the affected staff written judgments of their cases, which should be attached to suspension, termination and dismissal letters.
None of these was done, casting suspicions on the actual motive of Management and Council, the petition reads in part.
But Nawangwe said all the cases were properly handled in accordance with the law and all those affected were given the opportunity for a fair hearing.
I also wish to clarify that all aggrieved staff have the right to appeal to the Makerere University Staff Tribunal for legal redress. The Staff Tribunal provides a forum for aggrieved members of staff to be heard by an independent team of persons, led by a qualified member of the Justice Department of Uganda, he observed.

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