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Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU)

Press Release

1.0 General Introduction

OFFICIAL POSITION ON THE CURRENT SITUATION AT THE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY IN UGANDA

There have been a number of media reports concerning the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) administration and University Council membership in the recent past. These reports have caused a lot of concern and anxiety among staff, parents, students and other IUIU stakeholders, many of whom have been contacting the University for explanations, and for the official position on some of the issues and allegations. This press release is intended to make clarifications on some of the issues raised in the media, and to re-assure our stake holders and the general public that the University is still functioning properly, and moving in the right direction. All the planned academic activities are progressing as scheduled inspite of threats and provocations from detractors.

Even before we go into the details of the current situation at the IUIU, we would like to state that this University is one of the grand achievements of the NRM Government for the Muslim community in Uganda, and it has helped many Ugandans to partake of the great transformations in the education sector ushered in by the NRM Government. The IUIU, as the first university to be established in Uganda under the NRM Government, has contributed greatly to the training of competent and disciplined human resources for our country in the last 24 years of its existence. As such, IUIU has been a partner with the Government in the socio-economic development of many Ugandans.

1.2 Historical Background

The Islamic University in Uganda was opened in the year 1988 by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) under a bilateral agreement between the Government of Uganda (GOU) and the OIC. In 1990, the Parliament of Uganda enacted a law, The Islamic University in Uganda Act (cap 131, Laws of Uganda), formally establishing the University in Uganda. The University operates under the framework of this Act.

The University opened on 10th February 1988 with 80 students and two degree programmes. Currently, it offers 56 programmes in 6 Faculties and has a student population of 6,738 coming from 21 different countries. The University has a centre for

www.iuiu.ac.ug [email protected]

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Postgraduate Studies and four campuses including the main Campus in Mbale. The University employs over 700 members of staff from 8 countries.

2.0 Governance Structures of the University

The University functions through the following structures:

i) The University Council – this is “the supreme organ of the University, responsible for the overall administration and ensuring the due implementation of the objects and functions of the University.” (IUIU Act)

According to the Act, the IUIU has 16 members of council. Five of these are appointed by the Government of Uganda, and they include the Minister of Education and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in their official capacities, and three persons nominated from among “prominent Ugandan Muslims.” The other members of council are: the OIC Secretary General, the Chairperson of the Permanent Council of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), the Chairman of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, the Guild President, the Rector, the Vice Rector in Charge of Academic Affairs, and five members appointed by the OIC Secretary General. According to the law, government may replace up to two members at any one time every two years.

ii) The Executive Board

This is the equivalent of senate in other Universities. It is responsible for conducting the daily academic and administrative businesses of the University, and for monitoring the implementation of the policies and decisions of council. Its membership includes the Rector, Vice Rectors, deans and directors of institutes, and heads of academic and administrative departments. The Executive Board meets every month and it is chaired by the Rector.

The University has had five Rectors since it was established. The first Rector was the late Al-Haji Abubakar Kakyama Mayanja, who served in an acting capacity. The second Rector was Professor S. Huq (from Bangladesh), while the third Rector was Hon. Ally Kirunda Kivejinja in an acting capacity. The fourth Rector was Professor Mahdi Adamu (from Nigeria), and Dr. Ahmad Kaweesa Sengendo is the fifth and current Rector. He is the first substantive Ugandan Rector. Professor Nsereko Gyagenda, Professor Abdul B.K. Kasozi, Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, and Dr. Anas Kaliisa have served the University as Vice Rectors. The current Vice Rectors are: Dr. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo (Academic Affairs) and Dr. Abdul Kaziba Mpaata (Finance and Administration).


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iii) Council committees and other organs

The IUIU Act provides for standing committees (including the Appointments committee, the Finance & Tendering Committee and the Estates, Planning and Development Committee). The Council committees (as well as their chairs) are appointed by council. The Rector and the two Vice Rectors are also appointed by the University council on contract basis.

The University also has a Management Committee as well as Faculty and Departmental Boards. The Management Committee meets twice a month while the Faculty and Departmental boards meet once a month.

3.0 The Genesis of the Current situation

The current situation at the IUIU can be broken down into three parts. First, there are the allegations by Rt. Hon Lt. Gen.(Rtd) Moses Ali that the Rector, Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, recommended his replacement as a member of the University council, and hence his quest for vengeance in the matter. Secondly, there is the appointment of the new members of council by Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), Hon. Asuman Kiyingi, and the consequences that these appointments have caused for the University. Thirdly, there are the allegations of University “mismanagement” (according to Hon. Kiyingi) as well as accusations of involvement in terrorist activities. These issues will be handled in that order.

3.1 Replacement of Rt. Hon. Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali

From 1994 to 2009, the Government representatives to the IUIU Council were: Rt. Hon. Moses Ali, Hon. Ally Kirunda Kivejjinja, and the late Hajji Yunus Mpagi in addition to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Education and Sports. In the year 2009, the Government of Uganda changed two of its representatives to the University Council. The then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Co-operation, Hon. Isaac Musumba, informed the University that the Government had replaced Hon. Moses Ali and Hajji Yunus Mpagi with Hon. Ibrahim Lubega Kaddunabbi and Hon. Oleru Huda.

In its issue of 18th April – 2nd May, 2010, The Torch Newspaper published an interview with Hon. Moses Ali, in which he:

1) Accused the Rector, Dr. Ahmad Sengendo, of possibly influencing his removal and handpicking his replacements.

2) Is reported to have written to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation) in October 2009, to query Sengendo’s mandate to terminate him


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when he did not appoint him. He demanded that the letters issued to the newly appointed members be withdrawn.

3) Is also reported to have written to Hon. Ali Kirunda Kivejjinja, who was then third Deputy Prime Minister and Vice Chairman of the University Council, demanding that the matter be addressed.

4) Stressed that Dr. Sengendo was below him and did not have powers to remove him from Council.

5) Threatened to seek legal redress if the matter was “not amicably addressed.” Besides the Torch Newspaper report, Rt. Hon. Moses Ali’s letter to the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation),Hon. Isaac Musumba, is also quoted by Mr. Mahiri Balunywa in his dossiers against the University.

The truth about Rt. Hon. Moses Ali’s appointment and removal from the IUIU Council

Rt. Hon. Moses Ali served for a whole 15 years on the IUIU Council from 1994 to 2009. His appointment and removal from IUIU Council was done by the then responsible Ministers. As the recent removal and replacement of IUIU Council members carried out by Hon Asuman Kiyingi bear witness, the Rector of IUIU has no powers to remove or appoint government representatives to the IUIU Council. Indeed, Rt. Hon. Moses Ali was removed from the IUIU Council by the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), Hon. Isaac Isanga Musumba, in a letter to him dated 19th February, 2009 which was copied to the IUIU Rector. Therefore the allegations against the Rector on this matter are totally incorrect. The IUIU Rector has never made any recommendation to remove Rt. Hon. Moses Ali from IUIU Council.

It is also worth noting that for the 15 years Rt. Hon. Moses Ali was a Council member, he was also the Chairman of the IUIU Finance and Tendering Committee and a member of the IUIU Appointments Committee.

3.2 The Appointment of New Members of Council by Hon Asuman Kiyingi

In a letter dated 27th March, 2012, Hon Asuman Kiyingi, acting in his capacity as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), announced the appointment of new Government representatives to the IUIU Council, replacing Hon Kaddunabbi Lubega, Hon. Oleru Huda and Hon. Ally Kirunda Kivejjinja. The new appointees were: Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha, Hon. Nusura Tiperu and Mr. Mahiri Balunywa. The new appointment caused a lot of concern and anxiety in the Muslim public and the OIC, and frowns from members of the Ugandan public who were well-acquainted with the track-records of some of the new appointees.


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Problems with the New Appointments

(a) Technical Errors in the Appointments

1) Section 12 (2) of the IUIU Act provides that “The Government of Uganda may also replace every two years any two of the five members appointed by it under section 11(1)(b).” Unfortunately, instead of replacing two members as provided for by the law, Hon. Asuman Kiyingi replaced three members.

2) Section 11 (2) of the IUIU Act provides that the Chairman of Council is elected by members of council from among themselves. The Act does not provide for a Vice Chairman. So whereas members may agree on a member to act on behalf of the chairman in his absence, it is understood that this person would be elected by the members of council themselves. But Hon. Kiyingi “appointed” Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha as Vice Chairman of Council, which was clearly an error. (b) Why the appointment of Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha to the IUIU

Council is inappropriate

The services of Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha as Academic Registrar of Makerer University were terminated for “gross misconduct” which included among others illegally admitting unqualified students. Details of his unprofessional practices while he was Academic Registrar of Makerere University are available in the Ndoleriire report. The findings of the report were also published in the New Vision Newspaper of 26th July, 2000, pages 5 &6. On the basis of the findings of the Ndoleriire-led Committee of Inquiry into matters affecting Officers in the Academic Registrar’s Department, Makerere University formally terminated Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha’s services in a letter dated 8th November, 2002. In the Observer Newspaper of 27th April, 2012, Dr Mukwanason Hyuha projects himself as a person of high integrity. He also said that he served on one of IUIU’s committees from 1991 to 2002, and asked why his integrity was “not questioned then, rather than now”. What the public now needs to know is that in 2001, after his scandalous suspension and eventual dismissal from Makerere University, Dr. Mukwanason Hyuha applied for a job as Professor of Economics at IUIU, but his application was rejected. There was no way a person who had been rejected on moral grounds by a secular University could be welcomed by a religious-based university like IUIU. Following the rejection of his application, Dr. Hyuha wrote a strongly worded letter attacking the administration which was then headed by Professor Mahdi Adamu as Rector, alleging all sorts of unfairness. The position of IUIU then was, and still is now, that Dr. Hyuha has no credibility and moral standing to serve at the Islamic University. It would therefore be inadvisable for anyone to impose him on the University by appointing him on its highest


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governing organ. The Government may choose from several other available Muslims with integrity and professional ethics to serve on the IUIU Council. If IUIU rejected Dr. Hyuha’s application for an academic appointment, a lower position than being a Council member in terms of the governance of the institution, then both the IUIU fraternity and the general public are justified to object to his appointment to the top governing body of the University.

(c) Why the Appointment of Mr. Mahiri Balunywa w as also

inappropriate

The other appointee by Hon. Asuman Kiyingi was Mr. Mahiri Balunywa. His appointment was another anomaly. Mr Mahiri Balunywa was a Lecturer at IUIU Kampala and Mbale campuses. When his contract expired in 2008, the University decided not to renew it, because his conduct fell short of the core values of the University. Following this decision, Mr. Mahiri Balunywa, embarked on a defamatory smear campaign against the IUIU and its administration, as well as many members of the IUIU staff and others in the Muslim community. His writings were circulated in the media, through papers like the Torch, and an internet-based social network called the Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters (UMBS).

Anybody who cares to read Mr. Mahiri’s writings, some of which he calls “Occasional Papers”, since 2008 about the IUIU and its staff members cannot fail to notice the following:

a) He endeavours to link the IUIU administration to opposition political party

activities so as to attract the wrath of government against the individuals in charge of IUIU.

b) He uses abusive, disrespectful and near obscene language that is completely unbecoming of a lecturer or prospective member of Council of the Islamic University in Uganda.

c) He harbours personal vendettas against many staff of the IUIU, and other personalities in the Muslim community in Uganda.

d) Occasional Paper No.6 dated 3rd December, 2010 with the name Balunywa Mahiri as the author, deals extensively with witch-craft. If indeed Mr. Balunywa Mahiri is the author of that paper, then he is an ardent believer in witchcraft, which makes his presence on the University Council quite unbecoming. Witch craft (shirk) is the worst crime in Islam.

It should be obvious to anyone who wishes IUIU development that Mr. Mahiri is unfit to serve on the IUIU Council or on any other organ that is of public interest, and his appointment was very unfortunate. His presence on Council would only serve to empower him to settle old scores, and to discredit the University, without benefitting it in any way in terms of its growth and development. In one of his emails received by


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one staff of IUIU, Mr. Mahiri Balunywa described himself as follows: “… true I have personal scores with the university which I was supposed to pursue through court but my late father had discouraged me before he passed away, … but still as an aggrieved person am still sentimental …”. What good would anyone expect from an aggrieved and sentimental member of Council? The above anomalies have already been brought to the attention of Government. A Major Lesson from this situation One important lesson to be drawn from this saga is that government appointments to the University council should not be made at the whims of an individual. Yes, the IUIU Act empowers the Government of Uganda to appoint members, but a system of consultation should be evolved to allow members of the Muslim community to generate the names from among which the government can select. Such a process may for example involve prominent Muslim organizations in the country, as well as the IUIU Alumni Association. The final responsibility and authority would still lie with Government, but the process will be participatory, transparent, and fair. 3.3 Allegations of involvement in rebel activities

In one meeting held in his office, the Hon. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), Mr. Asuman Kiyingi, told the Rector in the presence of Hon. Kaddunabbi Lubega, that the Rt. Hon. Moses Ali had w ritten a report and submitted it to the Government of Uganda, about the Islamic University. In this report, according to Hon. Kiyingi, Rt. Hon. Moses Ali complained that his removal from the IUIU Council was done in bad faith, and that it had been engineered by the Rector, Dr Sengendo. Hon. Kiyingi also told the Rector that the Rt. Hon. Moses Ali’s report contained some serious accusations against him (the Rector), which were “being investigated by security agencies.”

On Monday 16th April, 2012, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), Hon Asuman Kiyingi, summoned the Rector and the Vice Rector (Academic Affairs), Dr. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, to his office; and in the presence of the University’s Kampala Liaison Officer, Mr. Hussein Kaye, the Minister told the Rector and Vice Rector that he had intelligence reports indicating that the two of them were engaged in acts of subversion against the Government of Uganda. He further said that the report indicated that Dr. Sengendo possesses five valid passports, which he was using to visit several countries for wrong reasons. The Rector tried to explain to the Hon. Minister that he had only one valid passport but this fell on deaf ears as the Minister seemed to believe that indeed the Rector had five valid passports. The Minister


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was determined to use threats and intimidation in an attempt to get the Rector to admit that he was involved in anti-government activities.

In the Daily Monitor Newspaper of that same day (16th April, 2012), Hon. Kiyingi was quoted as saying that the Rector, Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, had turned the institution (IUIU) into “a JEEMA recruitment ground.” In the same issue of the Daily Monitor, Hon. Kiyingi is also reported to have said that “there is gross financial mismanagement, money swindling and irregular recruitment of staff at IUIU, among many problems.”

On Wednesday 18th April, 2012, (two days after the meeting between the Minister and some IUIU administrators), an article appeared in the Red Pepper Newspaper (on pg. 5), containing the very same allegations that Hon. Asuman Kiyingi had made against the Rector, in his meeting with them on 16th April, 2012. The article was entitled “M7 BLOCKS ADF ARAB CASH,” and had a photograph of Minister Asuman Kiyingi with the Secretary General of the OIC, handing over an envelope. In the article, the OIC is alleged to be sponsoring terrorist groups through a “top university in Uganda.” The article further alleges that “a top professor at the University has five passports which he uses in “what … intelligence considers clandestine movements abroad.”

The IUIU crisis was also reported to have been discussed in the NRM parliamentary caucus. The Red Pepper issue of 26th April, 2012 carried a story in which Hon Asuman Kiyingi is reported to have told the caucus that “some members of the (University) council had links with ADF. According to the Red Pepper, Hon. Kiyingi alleged that “they were recruiting.” He also said to have remarked that “this matter is sensitive,” and he was disturbed that “Hon Oleru Huda had chosen to bring the matter in the caucus.” Hon Oleru Huda is the Woman member of parliament for Yumbe district, and she is a graduate of IUIU and one of the three members of council who were replaced by Hon. Asuman Kiyingi.

The University would like to inform all stakeholders and the public as follows:

i) Allegations that the University administration or its council members are or were engaged in anti-government activities are totally false, malicious, and meant to tarnish the good name of the University and its administrators and former Council members.

ii) Allegations that the University administration is using the University to recruit for JEEMA (or any other political party) and ADF are also completely false and malicious. These are meant to put the University administrators into political trouble.


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iii) As can be confirmed from a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs dated 4thMay, 2012, the IUIU Rector, Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, has ONLY ONE VALID PASSPORT. Therefore, the allegations that Dr. Sengendo holds five valid passports are false and malicious and were intended to tarnish his good name and also justify the link to terrorism and the cause for his immediate removal as Rector of IUIU.

3.4 Allegations of Financial mismanagement

Like many other institutions, we have had some staff engaged in financial malpractices in IUIU who have tried to defraud it of some money. Fortunately, these were identified, arrested, and forced to pay back all the money. All the relevant University organs, including the Council, are fully aware of the cases and the actions taken by University administration to protect the university finances. There have been attempts by the enemies of the University to blow these cases out of proportion. The University has properly audited annual financial reports, and the finances of the University are properly utilized, that is why the University has registered significant growth and development in the last 8 years. The audited accounts of the University are presented by the External Auditors to the Finance Committee and the University Council every financial year.

Staff recruitment

In the Daily Monitor newspaper of April 16, 2012, Hon. Asuman Kiyingi is quoted to have accused the University of “irregular recruitment of staff”. This is not correct. The University has an Appointments Committee which approves all appointments in the University. The Committee is chaired by Hon. Ally Kirunda Kivejinja, and for 15 years Rt. Hon Moses Ali was one of the members of this Committee. The other members include two University Council members, a representative from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No complaints have ever been raised by anybody about such alleged irregular recruitment of staff. In any case if there have been irregular recruitments in IUIU, Hon. Kiyingi’s Ministry has been a party to it. Further, since the Minister of Foreign Affairs is a member of the University Council, and the Ministry is represented at the IUIU Appointments Committee, Hon. Kiyingi could easily have addressed the matter to the right organs of the University instead of maligning the administration in the press.

The University has over 700 staff members from 8 countries. Recruitment in the University is based on specified academic qualifications and other requisite skills based on the needs of the University at a given time. The Ugandan staff of the University come from all regions of the country – as of now the university has staff from over 70 districts of Uganda.


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4.0 Achievements of IUIU under the current leadership.

Dr. Ahmad K. Sengendo was appointed Rector of IUIU in 2004. He took over a University besieged by many challenges and problems. These included the following:

i) Huge unpaid salary arrears that had led to frequent strikes. These have been settled and since 2004 salaries are paid every month.

ii) Unpaid statutory obligations to NSSF and Uganda Revenue Authority amounting to over UGX 1.2 billion. All these have since been paid. In addition, as of now, the University pays to Government statutory bodies about UGX 160 million every month. Indeed in 2011, the URA ranked IUIU as the second best tax payer in the whole of Eastern Region! The Sengendo administration has transformed IUIU from a tax-defaulting Institution to the second best tax payer in the Eastern Region.

iii) Other achievements of the current IUIU administration include: a) The number of students has increased from 2,682 in 2004 to now

6,738 coming from 21 countries. b) The number of campuses has doubled from 2 to 4 including the first

and only Females’ Campus in Uganda located at Kabojja. c) Constructed many buildings at the Main, Kampala and Females’

campuses. d) Improved learning facilities such as computers, books, science

laboratory equipment, ICT equipment, etc , at all campuses. e) Introduced new academic programmes such as Law, Food Science &

Nutrition, and Nursing. The University is finalising arrangements to start programmes in engineering with support from some international universities.

f) The image of IUIU has significantly improved in the last 8 years. That is why the University is able to attract staff and students from many countries.

g) The University has won several national and international awards of excellence in the last four years.

These achievements have been made because of the team spirit, financial discipline, dedication, and focus that have been the major hallmarks of the current IUIU administration.

4.1 Challenges of success


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Success breeds its own challenges. For us at IUIU we see the current crisis as a reaction to the success made by the current administration. Obviously there are those who wish IUIU well, and are very happy with its growth and development. Indeed, the University has enjoyed a lot of support and cooperation from many well-wishers for which we are extremely grateful.

H.E. President Yoweri Museveni has been very supportive of the University, and we are most grateful for this support. Many arms of the Government of Uganda have also been very supportive of IUIU’s activities.

Likewise, many OIC member states such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Nigeria, and others have given IUIU great support. Many OIC Institutions such as the Islamic Solidarity Fund, Islamic Development Bank, ISESCO, etc, have helped the University in many ways.

Unfortunately there are those who are not happy with the growth and development of IUIU and would wish to see it halted. Others may be just envious, and wish to destroy our success; while others wish to gain entry into and control the University so that they can use its resources and facilities for personal benefits. The architects of the current malicious allegations against the University administration belong to the second or third categories. That is why they are now trying to change the IUIU administration through an administrative coup engineered through political scare-crowing. If such unorthodox methods of changing university administrators are allowed to succeed, it will not augur well for the current and future development of higher education in Uganda.

5.0 The Present Position & Concluding Remarks

The IUIU administration believes that soon the baseless and malicious allegations made by the enemies of IUIU shall soon be fully over taken by the truth, and the liars will be exposed. We are also sure that those whose responsibility it is to resolve the current crisis shall exercise fairness and justice. We are confident that the Government and the public shall not allow the few self seekers who are behind the current situation to mislead them and to derail the University which has for many years served this country so well.

As stated earlier, the IUIU is one of the grand achievements of the NRM Government for the Muslim community and the education sector in Uganda. The IUIU administration is most grateful to His Excellency President Museveni for his great and personal commitment. Through His Excellency’s support and assistance, the University has achieved a lot. We look forward to His Excellency’s continued support and assistance.


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The University administration would like to assure all its stakeholders and the general public that everything possible is being done to ensure that the University continues to carry out its mandate. All the planned activities are proceeding on well as scheduled. Student Admissions for the 2012/13 Academic year are in progress at all the IUIU campuses. In case there are other developments we shall keep you updated.

We pray to Allah to continue protecting and blessing IUIU.

For God and My country

Shaban Lukooya Public Relations Officer, IUIU [email protected]


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