MAKERERE’S DVC (F&A) SELECTION SPLITS SENATE AND TOP MANAGEMENT

Fees, Systems, and Survival: Why Makerere’s Council Must Get This Decision Right!For many students at Makerere University, the question of university finances is not theoretical.

It is lived, it is the struggle to keep up with tuition. It is the uncertainty of each semester. For staff and management, it is different, but equally real. It is the daily effort to work within systems that are stretched, underfunded, and often reactive rather than planned.

This is the reality within which Makerere is selecting its next Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration).Following Senate’s process, the final decision now rests with the University Council.

Recently, the university community heard from the three candidates, Assoc. Prof. Eria Hisali, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, and Prof. Tumps Ireeta, in a public session chaired by Prof. Tonny Oyana.

Their ideas gave insight into what the future could look like.But now, the responsibility shifts from candidates to decision-makers, and this time, the stakes are clear.

The next financial leader will influence whether students can afford to stay, whether staff can function effectively, and whether the institution can maintain its relevance.This is why the University Council cannot treat this as a routine decision.

This is not just about choosing a qualified individual. It is about choosing the kind of future the university will have.Will Makerere continue adjusting, reacting, and coping? Or will it begin to plan, position, and transform?The answer lies in the kind of leadership Council selects.

At a time like this, the safest decision is not always the best one. And the most familiar choice is not always the right one. Council must look beyond comfort and act with clarity choosing leadership that can balance financial discipline with long-term vision, and stability with transformation.

Because for students, staff, and the country at large, this decision is not abstract. It is immediate. It is real. And it will be felt. Makerere must get this right.

Writer
Bagonza Amon Baguma (LC. 5 Makerere University)
Makerere University Alumnus