By Our Reporters
Former Minister Asuman Kiyingi has lifted the veil, leaving Prof Venescias Baryamureeba literally naked like never before. Barya chairs the Mubs governing council which is supposed to oversee the recruitment of the new Principal for the Nakawa-based Mubs. Kiyingi blames Baryamureeba claiming he is interested in the top job that Balunywa had held onto for now 20 straight years. As directed by the President, many expected Balunywa to simply get a new contract which hasn’t happened. Instead the Education Service Commission is conducting recruitment process to get a new boss on grounds that Balunywa doesn’t qualify since he is already 60 which is the mandatory retirement age. This is something for which Kiyingi blames Baryamureeba, the council chair. On Sunday afternoon, Kiyingi, who has lately been associated with controversial outbursts and politically very unconventional positions, took to his facebook wall and posted something that bordered on hitting Baryamureeba below the belt. “This is a classic case of sectarianism. The President wants Professor Balunywa re-appointed as MUBS Principal but a scheming Baryamureeba exploiting his ethnic and religious networks is fighting to grab the job. Balunywa’s stellar performance record seems a secondary matter. He suffers the double tragedy of being a Musoga and a Muslim at the same time in a system that looks down upon both. I have very recently been a victim of similar ethnic and religious forces though in my case it was compounded with Busoga’s PhD politics. I hope this time round the President prevails over these sectarian forces holding him hostage,” Kiyingi posted in his trade mark style of always taking no prisoners. As expected, Kiyingi’s post sparked lots of debate whereby many agreed with him and a few others, like social media icon Sarah Kagingo, rebuked him for practicing what (ethnicity and religious biases) he claimed to be up against. Those against him argued he should have marketed his Prof Balunywa on grounds of merit as opposed to referring to his religion and tribe. Those in agreement with him argued that Baryamureeba was given the opportunity to serve at Makerere and failed. Some referred to his UTAMU experience calling for inquiry into the circumstances under which he ceased to be UTAMU Vice Chancellor. Kiyingi accompanied his facebook rant with an anti-Baryamureeba dossier famous blogger Martha Leah Nagalama had posted earlier making case for Balunywa’s re-appointment. Nagalama’s dossier, as shared by Asuman Kiyingi, reads as follows:
VERBATIM:
UGANDA: PS and director of education defy Museveni
Failed Makerere University vice chancellor Prof. Baryamureeba is battling with the reality of his failures as he is working tooth and nail to stop the re-appointment of Prof. Balunywa at MUBS. The sigh of relief that came with the young blood taking up the mantle of the Ivory Tower (Makerere) vanished in oblivion. He miserably failed and was kicked out of the makerere for among others grabbing donor money among. Instead of looking at the Institution he was busy looking at himself and no wonder he has got 2 Mercedes Benz. Government fixed him in Mubs as chairman of MUBS council. His plot to kill that institution is now alive. He went around and gambled founded Utamu and he’s co-founders have of late kicked him out for his continued failures. He tried to bounch back to Makerere where he had miserably failed and could not succeed. His record was still alive. Nobody wants him near Makerere, full of himself he tried the presidential job and we all know what happened. At UBTEB they are waiting to see him out, in Mbarara university he disagreed with the former DVC Pamela and led to her exit. a she has never forgiven him. He is now busy wanting to transfer his failures to mubs by lobbying to become the next vice chancellor against the President’s advice to reappoint the former. He is working with the PS of education and Robert Ochieng to mislead the first lady to write a letter to advertise balunywa ‘s job. He is now working again with the same people to defy a presidential directive to re appoint Balunywa.
He acted dubious and leaked the first lady’s letter so that the public thinks that balunywa is a gone case before the state. He also created an online news letters on which he interpreted the first lady’s letter, in essence he wanted to prepare the public for balunywa ‘s exit and blame it on the first lady. The PS of education who was recommended by the first lady has fallen prey of Baryamureeba ‘s trap along with the director of education Ochieng. They are defying Museveni’s directive to reappointment Balunywa.
Baryamureeba has nothing to loose in this scheme. It is them to loose. He is food at using and dumping people, During his time.at MUK and now at Mubs he has used and abandoned many. People love Balunywa as a matter of fact. Much as some of the ministry officials under estimate his popularity among staff, students and the general public.in the Kyabazinga land he’s a hero. Balunywa is a national asset far bigger than Mubs deployment where he’s currently being underutilized. If Museveni knew Balunywa’s abilities, he would not be in Mubs today but rather be doing bigger things for the nation.
But he loves him bse he has kept him there on all occasions when he has been fought. And as it is now, he emerge victor in this war that failure Baryamureeba has started without knowing its consequences.
Baryamureeba continues to gamble and scheme from all angles. He won’t succeed on this filthy deal.
BARYA FIGHTS BACK:
Like a wounded buffalo, Prof Baryamureeba rushed to the Kiyingi facebook page and delivered a number of points including explaining why Balunywa isn’t eligible for re-appointment as Mubs CEO. He said the fact that the humble Muslim Professor from Busoga is already clocking 60 makes him ineligible for retention. And this is something, reliable State House sources told this news website, that was unknown to the President at the time he decreed his re-appointment. In the same missive Baryamureeba denies being interested in the Mubs VC job implying that having twice tried and failed to get the same post at Makerere, he has since moved on to do other things. Below is a verbatim of Baryamureeba’s clarification on the matter: Venansius Barya rebuttal: “First of I would like to state that I am I am serving as Chairperson of Council of MUBS and the Principal of MUBS, Professor Balunywa is responsible to council. On 5th March 2018, I did write on behalf of MUBS council recommending Prof. Balunywa for re-appointment as Principal MUBS and this letter was copied to Prof. Balunywa. However, I have of late learnt that as per Section 12 of the Pension Act Cap 286, Prof. Wasswa Balunywa does not meet the eligibility criteria for re-appointment as a Principal of pubic tertiary institution since he was born on 3rd December 1955 and is already above the mandatory retirement age of 60. As a result of this legal requirement, a principal of a public tertiary institution is required to vacate office on attaining the age of sixty years. I would like to categorically state that after serving as Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, I have no interest in serving as Vice Chancellor of any other University or Principal of any tertiary institution including MUBS. I recently applied to serve as Vice Chancellor of Makerere University because many stakeholders wanted me to go back and finish the unfinished business I left behind. After serious considerations I decided to apply and the rest is history and I am done with serving as Vice Chancellor/Principal of any University/ Tertiary Institution. Whoever is circulating falsehoods against me, time will be the judge. Now Hon. Kiyingi who served as Minister, MP and is a lawyer can put pressure on government using all technics including religion, tribe, and blackmail to have Prof. Balunywa reappointed Principal MUBS even when he does not qualify. On my part, I had recommended him in a letter dated 5th March 2018 on condition that he met the eligibility criteria that is under the mandate of the appointing authority i.e. the Ministry of Education and Sports/Education Service Commission. Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, Chairperson MUBS Council.” Not done, Asuman Kiyingi cynically responded to Baryamureeba as follows: “That is the biggest irony. Chairman of the University Council plotting to replace his own Principal! He has formally denied it elsewhere on this wall but an impeccable source has confirmed to me that he actually wants the job.”
BARYA GOES NATIVE; GETS BASHED
Not one to go down without a fight, Baryamureeba returned bare knuckle and deployed uncharacteristically very strong language against the former Minister. This is how he described Kiyingi in his follow up rant: “Asuman Kiyingi you have not disputed the fact that in writing on March 5, 2018 I recommended Prof. Balunywa for re-appointment and this letter was copied to him (Prof. Balunywa). I did this well knowing that for all public CEO positions like for Principal MUBS there is a requirement that they should be publicly advertised so that there is transparency and fairness and all eligible Ugandans should be accorded an opportunity to apply ad then allowed a fair competition. But I still recommended him for re-appointment any way as long as he met the eligibility criteria. Mind you I did this without calling a MUBS council meeting i.e. I did it on behalf of MUBS council. So who are your credible sources? Prof. Balunywa fanatics, tribes mates or supporters? If you were not Moslem I would have asked you what alcohol you had taken that influenced your write up. Some of us are beyond stupid lobbying that involves character assassination of innocent Ugandans. Hon Asuman Keying, your submission after my submission puts you under stupid Ugandans. Let me now assure you that as long as I live, I shall never be stupid or support the breaking of the laws of Uganda I love so dearly. Either the law is on side or it’s not. So go on with your stupidity until we cross our path again. Lastly don’t expect any other public response from me but remember going forward I shall execute my duties as Chairperson of MUBS council without fear or favor. For God and my Country. Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, PhD. Chairperson MUBS Council.” Baryamureeba’s below-the-belt rant prompted a one Peter Simons, who had previously disliked Kiyingi’s post, to tell him off. “Professor Venansius Baryamureeba, thanks for your comments but I am taken aback by something: I have no doubt about your love for our country and its laws but two things stand out to me. First, you disregarded the law that requires all vacant public offices to be advertised to accord all interested parties chance to vie for such positions, you broke or ignored that important requirement, didn’t even call the Council for reasons best known to yourself. Thus, you became the law itself. I am afraid you caused this problem by not guiding Council and the appointing authority as you were supposed to. Second, your language has sent me real shock waves and I am wondering, is this the way our Ugandan professors address public issues, and if the professors can use such language or manner of communication, what about their products ie the students, or rural folks who either didn’t go to school or dropped out, can any person ever question their actions especially if they are not educated? Maybe I stayed abroad for so long that I have lost touch with what is going on in Uganda. Professor Venansius, I highly suggest you don’t allow emotions to control your responses to serious public issues, I think you owe Ugandans an apology and if possible, resign from the Chairmanship position,” Peter Simons asserted. In the same way, Alebtong/Ajuri County MP Benson Obua-Ogwal, was originally was displeasured with Kiyingi’s post, too became his sympathetic supporter following the Baryamureeba attack. “[Asuman Kiyingi] Thanks for reaching me in my in-box. Your explanation enlightened me. Still don’t take the war to social media. What belongs [to] you no one can take away. If they do so by force, it turns into a problem for them instead. In the end, your reward comes full measure, pressed down and shaken together! It shall be well with you, my Hon. Colleague.” When Obua first criticized him, Kiyingi replied “Hon Obua I wish u had the information that I have. You would be more outraged.” As for Baryamureeba, Asuman Kiyingi, who exercised lots of restraint despite the many attacks and provocations, responded thus: “Thanks Prof Venansius Baryamureeba for your candid responses. My sources are not just Balunywa tribal or religious fanatics. If they were I would have apologized to you long ago after your first explanation and pulled down this post. But am afraid I cannot.” For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
