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Mbarara University staff strike, demand VC’s resignation
Mbarara University of Science and Technology main gate
The teaching staff at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) have unanimously agreed to lay down their tools until the vice chancellor, Prof Celestino Obua steps down.
The lecturers accuse Prof Obua and the university accounting officer of lack of transparency and embezzling money meant for operations at the university.
They want the University Council to immediately relieve Prof Obua of his duties in public interest. Obua is six months’ shy of retirement.
They want the search committee to start the process of searching for the next vice chancellor.
The strike comes a fortnight after the staff members suspended the strike and issued a two-week ultimatum to allow the University Council to handle their concerns.
The staff accused the institution management of financial mismanagement, bleaching the human resources manual, unfair recruitment of staff and misuse of university property.
Dr John Emenyu, the Chairperson of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Academic Staff Association, said the strike is a last resort after the University Council failed to handle their concerns with urgency.
A join statement that was issued by Dr Emenyu and Mr Charles Kakuru, the chairperson of the institution’s chapter of the National Union of Educational Institutions, after an emergency general assembly on Thursday, stated that emergency services in the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of Security will remain functional.
