{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Makerere gangs up on Dr Stella Nyanzi

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43820-makerere-gangs-up-on-dr-stella-nyanzi

Makerere gangs up on Dr Stella Nyanzi

Written by MOSES TALEMWA & CHRIS TUSIIME

Dr Stella Nyanzi

Fellow staff, students attack lecturer over undressing and insubordination, as Stella Nyanzi meets investigative committee 

Makerere University's controversial researcher Stella Nyanzi was yesterday fighting for her job, as fellow staff condemned her for stripping in a protest against Prof Mahmood Mamdani.

Dr Nyanzi hit headlines on Monday, when she stripped to get her office at the Makerere Institute of Social Research opened. MISR director Mamdani had locked the office after Nyanzi repeatedly refused to teach on the institute's PhD programme. 

The anthropologist has since divided public opinion, variously praised as a courageous woman scorned by a bully-boss, and criticised as a figure of insubordination. Nyanzi spent much of yesterday meeting the university director of human resources, Dr Mary Tizikara, and later a committee investigating the row, chaired by Prof David Bakibinga.

According to staff at MISR, Dr Nyanzi arrived at around 8am,  picked a batch of papers from her office and drove away – to meet the human resources director. It was not immediately clear what transpired in Nyanzi's meetings with the officials. Dr Bakibinga could not be reached by telephone by press time. 

But Nyanzi was expected to explain why she is so unhappy with Mamdani's leadership, which has seen several senior staffers quit MISR. Her view is that Mamdani is autocratic and bulldozes employees; hence her refusal to teach is to be understood as a revolt against maladministration.

Mamdani, for his part, says that Nyanzi promised to teach on the PhD programme only to get the job and use MISR facilities to do private work. Mamdani says he is fighting a culture he found entrenched at MISR, where researchers allegedly used public facilities for private business.

According to the vice chancellor, Prof John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Prof Bakibinga committee is expected to present its report to senior management for deliberations today, Friday.  And last evening, university spokeswoman Ritah Namisango insisted the committee would file its report today, despite having only two days to consider a four-year-old wrangle.

RAPING ACADEMIA

On Monday, management is expected to present its report to the university's appointments' board, led by Bruce Kabasa. Both Dr Nyanzi and Prof Mahmood Mamdani are expected to be invited to explain themselves.

The Observer yesterday spoke to several staff, students, and other university officials – and found indications that opinion could be starting to shift against Nyanzi.

Several lecturers who declined to be named insist that Dr Nyanzi could come out of Monday's meeting weakened – mostly for undressing. The university regulations, one lecturer said, forbid staff from conducting themselves in a manner likely to negatively affect the university's moral standing. University staff are also forbidden from inciting students to protest without substantial grounds.

Dr Fred Tanga Odoi, the head of the University Convocation and member of the University Council, who was found at Makerere, had no kind words for Nyanzi. 

"I'm here to request management to take action against Dr Stella Nyanzi immediately. A PhD is the highest academic qualification one can get: for one to do what she did is the equivalent of raping the academia," Odoi said. "If management does not take action by Monday, I will call the convocation to consider taking action against Dr Nyanzi and the vice chancellor. You can't just dilly dally on the matter for four years and take no action. Either he prevails over Dr Nyanzi, or he [vice chancellor] resigns.

Odoi wondered what would happen if students refused to take a test and strip in protest.

"Dr Stella Nyanzi must be seen to leave the university immediately. She must be suspended immediately." 

Dr Muhammad Kiggundu, chairman of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (Muasa), condemned Nyanzi's decision to strip, which he said was tantamount to immorality. On the substantive issues of Nyanzi refusing to teach, and on Mamdani's alleged mismanagement, Kiggundu was noncommittal.

"As Muasa, we shall sit on Monday to consider the matters thoroughly. We wanted the Bakibinga committee to get to the bottom of the matter. We want a permanent solution to the situation," Kiggundu said.

However, a day earlier, a member of Muasa had told The Observer that Nyanzi's was a case of insurbordination.

OTHER AVENUES

Although many students have supported Nyanzi's campaign against Mamdani, others are critical of her – mostly outraged by her stripping. Aidah Loy, a third-year student of Business Statistics, said she was "pissed" by the academic.

"For heaven's sake, she is a mother. How could she dare do such? I really condemn it. If I was the vice chancellor, I would have fired her already."

But Brenda Muhairwe, a second year student of Journalism and Communication, was sympathetic: "That is the only way she could have her issues addressed. She is a mother, how was she going to support her family if she lost her office. I'm happy it really worked for her."

This view was shared by Blanshe Musinguzi, fourth-year student of the same course. However, Musinguzi said that by stripping, Nyanzi acted "out of proportion".

For Harriet Nakisolya and Latifah Nabukalu, both second-year students of Records and Archives Management, the issue was the tenability of Nyanzi's position.

"How will she again appear before students? We all get annoyed, but should we all start moving naked?" Nakisolya wondered.

Evelyn Akech, a first- year student, argued that Nyanzi should have found other means of regaining her office: "I think she would have sued the person who locked her outside in courts of law."

STAFF COMMENTS ON NYANZI

Dr Euzobia Baine Mugisha – Lecturer in Gender studies

What she did is a disgrace. I can understand fighting for one's rights, but we have established channels for raising these issues. What I have issue with is for people to come out now and act holy and right, but Dr Nyanzi's actions are indefensible.

Grace Nakayiwa – Administrator 

I feel offended that a woman of her academic standing can descend to that level. The fact that she is even allowed to continue working here is terrible.

While she has been a very friendly and approachable person, she has descended to such unacceptable levels – even going to extent of using unbecoming language in public. Her decision to use F-words and other explicit language demeans all of us as women. 

Prof James Kigongo – Lecturer in Philosophy

What Dr Stella Nyanzi did is unbecoming of someone of her stature of learning. She disgraced all women who are dear to us. We can't tolerate this.

mtalemwa@observer.ug 

Makerere gangs up on Dr Stella Nyanzi

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/43820-makerere-gangs-up-on-dr-stella-nyanzi

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