We want to remain part of Makerere University, says MUBS academic staff

Makerere University Business School (MUBS) wants to remain part of Makerere University.

According to the press release by MUBS Academic Staff Association, the intended transformation of MUBS into other degree awarding institutions should be stopped. They suggested that the institute merges with other public institutions at Nakawa hill to make a university.

According to Dr. Isaac Magoola, the head of business administration and senior lecturer, categorizing MUBS into other degree awarding institutes will eventually reduce its caliber. He noted that such proposal puts MUBS at a risk of losing students.

"We don't want to lose our students. We must continue pushing it until government accepts our requests; the government should give us university status or MUBS remains the way it is," said Magoola.

The head of department business administration Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Dr. Isaac Magoola (L) and Makerere University Business Academic Staff Association (MUBASA) Chairman Dr Arthur Ahimbisibwe (R) interacting shortly after a press briefing held at MUBS on Monday

 
During a press conference at the MUBS main campus in Kampala, Magoola noted the bill to transform MUBS into other degree awarding institutions was tabled before Parliament without consulting key stakeholders like academic staff, students among others.

"We were not consulted about the bill," said Magoola.

He also said that MUBS learnt that the Ministry of Education was in advanced stages of tabling before Parliament a statutory instrument to transform MUBS into public tertiary institutions in the category of other degree awarding institutions.

He said that the academic staff immediately petitioned the speaker of Parliament, the prime minister and ministry of education. The bill was later withdrawn.

He also revealed that in May this year, MUBS academic staff learnt that cabinet agreed to award it the inferior key status and stakeholders have in various ways objected it.

Magoola also said that on June 02, the academic staff again petitioned the speaker of the Parliament, the prime minister, ministry of education and other relevant bodies indicating awareness despite reasoned and honest objections to intend amendment.

In the petition it was demanded that any change in MUBS status should occur only after extensive consultations with all stakeholders including, staff parents and students.

Johnson Sekakubo, Makerere University Business school academic staff association representative noted that  the institute has visiting professors from different universities hence categorizing MUBS into other degree awarding institutions will automatically lead to the exit of the lecturers.

"We can easily lose MUBS visiting professors, no parent will bring his/her child here", said Sekakubo.

Students speak out;
Speaking to New Vision, students had mixed reactions about the bill. Namulembo Sally Josephine said that MUBS should be left the way it is.

"Taking it in other degree awarding institutions won't be fair for our school," said Namulembo.

Bugembe Ivan wants MUBS to be independent pointing out difficulties during registration, graduation that they have to first go to Makerere University.

"We have to first go to Makerere University for registration and during graduation," Bugembe said.