Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-03-16 05:26:43
Kabale University deputy vice chancellor in charge of academic affairs, Prof Benon Basheka, has recently been dismissed from his position due to gross misconduct and insubordination. The decision to sack him was made by the university disciplinary committee, appointments board, and the university council, following his guilty plea to charges of abuse of office, abetting crime, and gross insubordination.
In a press statement dated March 13 and signed by the university vice chancellor, Prof Joy Constance Kwesiga, it was announced that Basheka had handed over his office on Wednesday of that week. Despite efforts to reach Basheka for comment, he could not be reached as his mobile phone was inaccessible.
An anonymous source within the university administration disclosed that Basheka’s guilty plea led to the unanimous decision by the committees to remove him from his position. The specific misconduct he was found guilty of was in violation of the Kabale University human resource manual.
In a turn of events prior to his dismissal, on February 7, 2024, Basheka had submitted a petition to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) requesting intervention and investigations into various issues at the university. These included the mismanagement of students’ results, de-enrollment of students by the academic registrar’s department without the knowledge of the finance department, existence of inactive students in the system, unauthorized changes in fee structures, and unauthorized changes in students’ sponsorship status.
The dismissal of Prof Benon Basheka has raised questions and concerns within the academic community, especially regarding the accountability and transparency of university leadership. It serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding ethical standards and maintaining professionalism in higher education institutions.
Moving forward, Kabale University will need to address the vacancy left by Basheka’s departure and ensure that academic affairs are managed effectively and responsibly. The university’s reputation and integrity are at stake, and it will be crucial for the leadership to demonstrate a commitment to addressing any issues that may arise and upholding the values of academic excellence and integrity.
As the university moves forward from this incident, it will be imperative for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that such misconduct is not repeated and that the focus remains on providing quality education and research opportunities for the benefit of the students and the community at large.
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