The Makerere University Vice Chancellor Search Committee has adjusted the age bracket for those interested in vying for the office from 60 to 65.
A Search Committee report seen by this website, presented to the university council on Tuesday, indicates that interested candidates should be aged between 40 and 65 years of age, different from the 2012 committee which set the age bracket for the candidates to between 40 to 60yrs.
"The candidates (for vice chancellor) should have the following qualifications; a PhD/ academic doctorate from a recognized institution, be more than 40 years and below 65 years at the time of application, at least five year of teaching experience at the rank of associate professor or equivalent in a reputable institution with excellent track record of research of at least 10 peer reviewed publications," the report reads in part.
The committee is chaired by Dr. Irene Ovunji, the Deputy Chairperson Makerere University council and deputized by the appointments board chairperson, Bruce Balaba Kabasa. The incumbent vice chancellor Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu and deputy vice chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe thought to be interested in the position are aged 64 and 61 respectively.
The two were asked to excuse themselves from the university council meeting on Tuesday before the report was presented and discussed by the council. When asked about the change of the age bracket, a committee member admitted the search committee increased the age limit to accommodate the two top university managers.
"Yes, we really want to give them (Prof Nawangwe and Prof Ddumba) a chance to contest," the source said. "A university professor is a more productive when aged between 65 and 70," the source told URN on condition of anonymity. The two were the front runners in the 2012 search process, which saw Prof Ddumba emerge winner.
The source also noted that university associate professors can get contracts up to the age of 65. An associate professor is the least academic rank set for interested candidates. niversities and other institutions act 2001, the principal law that streamlines the administration in universities and other institutions of higher education in Uganda is silent on the age limit of who should be vice chancellor.
Section 31 (2) stipulates the vice chancellor shall be appointed by the chancellor on the recommendation of the university council from among three candidates recommended by the Senate. Section 31(4) says the vice-chancellor shall be appointed on terms and conditions determined by the university council for five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term.
Other qualifications are good track off academic management, high level of integrity, excellent communication skills, high level experience in networking, and proven experience in national as well as international policy development in higher education and good knowledge of public finance management.