By Our Reporters
Mubs long serving Principal Prof Juma Wasswa Balunywa is back once again to lead the institution he founded from scratch 20 years ago. To some this settles the storm that had arisen following Mubs Council Chairman Prof Venescias Baryamureeba’s insistence that Balunywa had to leave because his time was up. Baryamureeba and many others that are like-minded premised their views on two things including Balunywa being aged 62 years (clearly above 60 which they considered to be the maximum age for the job) and secondly that he had served for too long yet fellow CEOs at Makerere, Kyambogo and other public institutions serve for only 2 terms (maximum 10 years). The adherents of this view fortified themselves by winning over some key technocrats who happen to be the education minister Janet Kataha’s blue eyed boys/girls. At the political level, they had vastly connected JC Muyingo’s backing and what made things even more complicated for Balunywa was that the sober-minded man from Bamunanika is his immediate supervisor being the Higher education minister. He is also widely believed to be the next Vice President. The only clear supporter the Balunywa camp had at the Ministry was Primary Education Rosemary Seninde who relentlessly countered whatever negative reports that were brought to Janet Museveni regarding Balunywa. Through Seninde, the Balunywa camp was able to keep getting regular updates regarding what their adversaries had said or done in meetings with Janet as overall sector head. The Balunywa team was vastly connected to the President and often accessed him to counter any negative reports availed to the First Lady. An example is given regarding what happened two days to the President’s flight to London for the Chogm meeting the Queen hosted. Balunywa’s friends and allies within the presidency prevailed on President Museveni, who had offered to meet the Professor on return, to change his mind and meet him prior. The argument was that the matter at hand was very urgent and there was a possibility “your man will be humiliated before you return.” On being told this, Museveni through one of his long term assistants who is also close buddies with Balunywa said that “okay let him come.” Balunywa was with the President the next day.
WHAT THEY DISCUSSED;
Balunywa, whose relationship with Museveni dates back to the 1970s because of his parents’ role in FRONASA, poured out his heart in a manner that emotionally moved Museveni. It was a brief meeting but the economics Professor from Busoga made the best out of it. It will be recalled that Museveni had collaborators among Balunywa’s parents for his FRONASA clandestine activities against Amin. This is how he comes to know and work with the Balunywa family long before the Professor came of age. The same applies to the famous Nkono family of Namutumba from which Persis Namuganza hails. So in that brief meeting, Museveni asked Balunywa “how is my sister?” This was in reference to Balunywa’s mother. State House sources say, the big man was moved to tears when an unusually fast-talking Balunywa told him “Mr. President your sister died.” Museveni, who apparently had lately not been in touch with his man Balunywa, was almost moved to tears and then asked the Professor “Yii how come you never informed me?” Balunywa, who too reciprocated the President’s sadness by emotionally breaking down, said “Mr. President I sent you a message and your people at home [Busoga] were surprised that you didn’t come for burial and there was no official message from your office.” Balunywa reportedly told Museveni how everybody in the family remained disappointed how the big man, who in the past had twice slept at his deceased mother’s home, had suddenly abandoned the family. Museveni then said since he had limited time as he prepared for the Chogm meeting yet Balunywa had an emergency at hand, the two would discuss more when he returns from London. Balunywa also told Museveni how he had falsely been accused of many things to the First Lady and begged to have the opportunity to meet her and clear his name. He begged the President to arrange for him the meeting or to deliver his clarification to her. “Don’t worry all will be well; we are going to take care of you.”
M7 RETURNS;
On return from the Chogm meeting in UK, Museveni who for years has always had two influential aides through whom Balunywa accesses him, sent for the Mubs Professor for a follow up meeting. It was in this meeting that Balunywa, who even on this occasion entered State House incognito, delivered two huge files. One file contained the accusations of corruption, procurement and financial impropriety his adversaries have for years been making against him to the IGG and Parliament while copying in the President and the education ministry. The second file contained Balunywa’s responses to each and every allegation. On learning that Balunywa had had the opportunity to twice meeting the President to clear his name, his adversaries (using some of the recently sanctioned Mubs academic staffers engaged a higher gear by submitting new allegations against Balunywa. Whatever he learnt of as new allegations, Museveni would alert Balunywa immediately through the two emissaries in his office. The professor would then furnish State House with a comprehensive response fully backed up with relevant annexures. This would be followed up with another meeting with Museveni and for most of the time these meetings would be abrupt –at short notice. Gratefully besides Seninde, Balunywa also had the support of the guys at Education Service Commission where the President’s young sister Violet Kajubiri works. Dr. Asuman Lukwago, who is the Secretary to the ESC, too was uncomfortable with the belligerent approach Baryamureeba was taking and in the end accused the Mubs council of usurping the Commission’s powers. Lukwago also faulted Baryamureeba for presenting his personal views against Balunywa as those of the entire Mubs council membership whereas not. He urged the computer professor to re-read the law and deepen his understanding of how Mubs top officials are appointed or gotten rid of. Balunywa’s foes also said the Principal is also related to the ESC chairman through marriage. So the biggest hurdle was within the education ministry. But on learning of the powerful backers Balunywa was having and using to often meet and easily reach the President, some of the technocrats at the Ministry developed cold feet and began to act cautiously. They became less outspoken at the afternoon meetings Janet would regularly call at State Lodge Nakasero to expedite the finding of an amicable solution to the Mubs Principal saga. In the end it was decided that, since the final word rested with the President and the ESC, a comprehensive opinion regarding what makes Balunywa ineligible for reappointment had to be written and given to the Commission. The purpose of this was that in case Balunywa is reappointed and those aggrieved go to Court or the IGG, there will be a fallback position for the MoES technocrats to say (as a defense) that we in writing gave our guidance.
BALUNYWA NEW JOB;
In one of the meetings, to which Balunywa was permitted to sometimes come casually dressed because of the stressful situation Baryamureeba had put him in, the President offered to give the economics professor any other job of his choice in his government. Reliable State House sources say that Balunywa thanked the President for that blank cheque but showed his preference to remain at Mubs to complete what he started including expanding upcountry and presiding over the elevation of the same to University status so that whoever eventually succeeds him will serve as Vice Chancellor at not Principal anymore. Indeed the process is on for the Business School to be elevated into University and that way the likes of Balunywa, accused of seeking to cling on, will easily be gotten rid of since the institution will become subject to the two term limit for the CEO. As they discussed the option of getting Balunywa another job, the two discussed headship of a certain institution (we won’t disclose it here because it’s sensitive) and the President frankly told the Mubs Professor “thought we had in the past considered that possibility, it won’t be possible my son but it can be anything else.” Balunywa told the President that then it was okay he can remain at Mubs. But he made it clear to the country’s chief executive that he wouldn’t participate if he was going to be subjected to competition. “Mr. President as you know there are people who are out to character-assassinate me and once that happens, they are going to use that recruitment process to humiliate me,” State House sources quoted Balunywa as saying. The President, seemingly relieved that Balunywa had understood why the other big job wasn’t available for him anymore, nodded in approval and told the Mubs boss “leave that to me.” As they parted every after a meeting, Museveni told Balunywa “pray for me to be able to convince Maama [meaning Janet] to see our point.” He indicated to Balunywa that much as he is the boss and appointing authority, he didn’t want to act in a way that would make Janet uncomfortable and feel like her power as the line minister was being usurped. Ironically at every end of meeting with her ministry political and technocratic officials, Janet too would tell them “pray for me to be able to convince Mzee to see our point and change his position.” This clearly showed how much respect the two-Janet & Yoweri Museveni-have for each other and the respective opinion they each hold on management of public affairs. In the end, it’s now clear the Museveni side carried the day.
BALUNYWA IN COUNCIL;
But in the Mubs governing Council, Balunywa too had significant support. He had tactfully ensured his good friends like Kitgum MP Beatrice Anywar and minister Anite became non-voting members of council. They are non-voting but they can influence things during deliberations. And Balunywa has been able to use them efficiently to counter the overbearing influence Baryamureeba can have on people during such meetings. Then he has Minister Bright Rwamirama who sits in council in his capacity as Chairman of the Mubs alumni association (convocation). Rwamirama, who did his bachelors and master’s degree both at Mubs as an adult student, is a close friend of Balunywa. But prior to the Monday meeting, during which Council purported to end Balunywa’s tenure and replace him with Moses Muhwezi, the Mubs Principal had put Baryamureeba on the defensive by going bare-knuckles in the personal letter he wrote to him calling a spade a spade. He accused Baryamureeba of many personal faults and this kept the computer Professor busy in the days leading to the Monday council meeting. Instead of planning how to drive the final nail in the Balunywa Mubs coffin ahead of the Monday meeting, Baryamureeba (who had very negligible access to the President) was kept busy countering the likes of ex-minister Asuman Kiyingi who distinguished himself as a Balunywa spokesman on social media. It was Kiyingi who first posted a claim that Baryamureeba not only wanted Balunywa out but actually wanted the job of Principal. Baryamureeba responded furiously and called Kiyingi stupid. As Balunywa returns to office dangling at Barya an olive branch, there is anxiety with many fearing that, being one that doesn’t take defeats easily, Baryamureeba (still having two more years to go) might tender his resignation. Watch this space! For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
