The Director of Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Professor Mahmood Madhani today morning hit back at Makerere Unievrsity Vice Chancellor Professor Ddumba Ssentamu, saying the Vice Chancellor has no moral authority to participate in a probe into the alleged wrangles involving Dr. Stella Nyanzi at MISR.
This follows an announcement by Professor Ddumba yesterday that he was setting up a committee to investigate the claims of mismanagement at MISR and report to him.
In his rebuttal contained in a press release issued today morning, Mamdani also described Ddumba as partisan.
“The Vice Chancellor (VC) lacks the moral authority and objectivity to set up and provide oversight for such a Committee. He is partisan and has a clear conflict of interest due to his close family relationship with Dr. Stella Nyanzi. The VC should exclude himself from the process. This would allow the Committee to conduct its work in an impartial manner as well as to look into the VC’s own conduct, in particular, the extent of the VC’s involvement in encouraging, fomenting and prolonging insubordination of both Dr. Nyanzi and a few graduate students of MISR, all of whom have been increasingly emboldened by what they see as the support towards their cause from the highest office in this institution…” Professor Mamdhani wrote.
“The Vice Chancellor (VC) lacks the moral authority and objectivity to set up and provide oversight for such a Committee. He is partisan and has a clear conflict of interest due to his close family relationship with Dr. Stella Nyanzi. The VC should exclude himself from the process. This would allow the Committee to conduct its work in an impartial manner as well as to look into the VC’s own conduct, in particular, the extent of the VC’s involvement in encouraging, fomenting and prolonging insubordination of both Dr. Nyanzi and a few graduate students of MISR, all of whom have been increasingly emboldened by what they see as the support towards their cause from the highest office in this institution…”
Mamdani stated that the image of MISR in the academic world had been adversely affected as a result of Nyanzi’s protest.
“Dr. Stella Nyanzi defaced walls, vandalised property, hurled insults at the leadership of MISR and intimidated MISR staff and students, all of this with impunity. No self-respecting academic will want to come to MISR if these circumstances continue. The best students will look for alternatives. Donors will look for other places to put their money.”
He added: “ Until yesterday, we had demanded that Dr. Nyanzi teach in the doctoral programme. Now, the presence of Dr. Nyanzi threatens the very survival of the PhD program. Rather than teach in the PhD program, Dr. Nyanzi should be transferred to any other unit in the University that will accept her.”
Professor Mamdani also stated that the image of MISR in the academic world had been adversely affected as a result of Nyanzi’s protest.
“Dr. Stella Nyanzi defaced walls, vandalised property, hurled insults at the leadership of MISR and intimidated MISR staff and students, all of this with impunity. No self-respecting academic will want to come to MISR if these circumstances continue. The best students will look for alternatives. Donors will look for other places to put their money.
“Until yesterday, we had demanded that Dr. Nyanzi teach in the doctoral programme. Now, the presence of Dr. Nyanzi threatens the very survival of the PhD program. Rather than teach in the PhD program, Dr. Nyanzi should be transferred to any other unit in the University that will accept her.”
