Education Minister, Janet Museveni summoned the meeting.
Janet Kataha Museveni, the Minister of Education, has summoned all vice-chancellors and Senate members from public universities to, among other matters, elect their representatives to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
The meeting is currently taking place at Statehouse Entebbe.
“This is, therefore, to invite you and all members of the university senate to a meeting,” the Minister wrote to all vice-chancellors, invoking Section 6A of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, which grants her the authority to issue policy directions to all higher education institutions.
This will be the first time vice-chancellors and Senate members will elect their representatives under the direct supervision of the Minister of Education.
The election comes amid a power struggle within the National Council for Higher Education particularly pitting Prof Eli Katunguka, the current chairperson whose contract expired, and the Council’s Executive Director, Prof. Mary Okwakol.
Katunguka, who also serves as the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, was appointed chairperson in 2019. His term ended on March 21, 2024. Following the customary practice of serving two terms, he requested reappointment from the President.
Additionally, Katunguka was re-elected by the Senate representatives, the constituency he represents, which made him a council member eligible for the chairperson position. President Yoweri Museveni also issued a no objection to him as chairperson of the Council.
However, Prof. Okwakol raised concerns about the procedures followed in re-electing Katunguka as a Senate members’ representative. As the disputes continued, Education Minister Janet Kataha Museveni sought advice from the Attorney General. The Attorney General advised that reappointing Katunguka without adhering to the proper procedures would be problematic.
According to Section 7 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, the chairperson of the NCHE must be elected by the council members. They are required to recommend two candidates from among themselves to the President, who then appoints the Chairperson.
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) comprises members representing a range of constituencies, including vice-chancellors and Senate members from public and private universities, student representatives, and individuals from the commerce, industry, and agricultural sectors. Additionally, the council includes four members from other sectors of higher education and four representatives from religious non-degree-awarding institutions, among others.
While representatives from university constituencies are elected by their peers, members from other constituencies are appointed by the Minister of Education. The Act, however, does not provide detailed guidelines on the specific process for conducting these elections.
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