Professor Barnabas Nawangwe has staunchly defended his leadership at Makerere University since 2017. During a recent NBS Television interview, he rejected claims that his administration suppresses freedom of expression. This debate centers on the Makerere University governance transformation he has implemented at Uganda’s premier institution.
“Some people think hooliganism is equivalent to freedom of expression,” Prof. Nawangwe stated firmly. He distinguishes between academic discourse and what he considers disruptive behavior. His comments come amid growing public scrutiny of his leadership approach.
Critics label his style authoritarian. Supporters see it as necessary for institutional stability. Nawangwe takes pride in what he views as a major achievement: “We got rid of hooliganism.”
He has also faced questions about his academic credentials. Addressing these concerns directly, he explained his name changes throughout his academic career.
“One name is constant. Nawangwe is constant, Barnabas is constant,” he clarified. “And there is the name Umoja which I dropped when I came back from the Soviet Union.”
This change happened during his A-level examinations. The Uganda National Examinations Board required students to register with only two initials. He legally dropped “Umoja” through a sworn affidavit.
Nawangwe challenged his critics with confidence: “Tell us if there is any other Barnabas Nawangwe, who studied at Busia, who studied at Busoga College Mwiri, who is not me, in the last 100 years.”
His leadership has emphasized research output and academic professionalism. He defends the university’s promotion procedures as exemplary in rigor and transparency.
“The Makerere recruitment and promotions environment is probably the most transparent than anywhere in the whole world,” Nawangwe claimed. He cited his own promotion experience as evidence. His ascension to professorship required external review by international scholars. This was necessary due to the lack of suitable assessors within Africa at that time.
“The allegations that you can bribe people are not true,” he added emphatically. He rejects all suggestions of corruption in university appointments.
Yet concerns about governance persist. The Minister of Education has reportedly requested an investigation. The Inspector General of Government will look into fresh corruption allegations at the university. This casts doubt on Nawangwe’s claims of transparent administration.
As Makerere approaches its centennial celebrations, debate over Nawangwe’s legacy continues. Supporters credit him with establishing order and boosting research. Critics question whether these came at the cost of academic freedom.
The tension between discipline and dissent remains unresolved. This conflict between administrative authority and academic liberty will shape Makerere’s future long after Nawangwe’s tenure ends.
