Timothy Wangusa’s poem, A Taxi Driver on His Death, remains instructive when thinking about Makerere University in this present time.
The poem, about a taxi driver worrying about how he might crash and die for speeding, opens reflectively: When with prophetic eye I peer into the future/ I see that I shall perish upon this road/ Driving men that I do not know.
This metallic monster that now I dictate… and on goes the poem. It is tempting to think about Prof Barnabas Nawangwe as the taxi driver and Makerere University as “the metallic monster” that he drives. The Makerere University employees – all of them, academics and non-academics – as the men and women he drives, but “do not know” them.
The poem continues that that “metallic monster”, also described as “This docile elaborate horse,” is so frighteningly silent even when our taxi driver Nawangwe dangerously speeds. I know, Makerere University folks or just the place itself could be likened to (being treated like) horses; like a poorly kempt matatu. But despite their silence, Makerere “seems to simmer and strain.”
And this matatu, “Shall surely revolt some tempting day,” the first stanza ends. Did we not misread Wangusa all this while, believing this poem was about an actual ramshackle matatu, when he had actually used the taxi as a metaphor for his workplace?
Dear reader, I recalled this poem not because I intended to write about Prof Nawangwe as a taxi driver, and Makerere University as that dangerously driven taxi. (Of course, the images apply so perfectly – and pleasantly illuminate Wangusa’s poetic genius). But my intention was to, “with a prophetic eye, peer into the future,” and draw some scenarios of Makerere in the times ahead – like in the next ten years ahead.
I know for a fact that folks running Makerere University also draw these futuristic scenarios, which explains the (often brutal, and selfish) ways in which they deal with their colleagues in less powerful positions.
THESE GAMES ARE CRASHING
For the past two weeks, I have written about the mistreatment that Prof Umar Kakumba suffered after he expressed interest in continuing as deputy vice chancellor, Academic Affairs (DVCAA). The majority position – assessed anthropologically not as pollster – is that if Makerere cherished merit and was committed to excellence, the institution needed Kakumba in that position more than Kakumba needed the position.
But in the aftermaths, the Kakumba betrayal has impacted many negatively. Besides folks that have signalled to departing the university completely earlier than retirement – whom I wrote about last week – many folks noted the loss of energy and motivation to seek administrative positions, say as deans or as principals of colleges.
They may stay to continue teaching and blossom from Makerere’s 100- year legacy for their addresses – and grant applications – but would prefer “not to brawl with some uneducated hands that are high in the hierarchy.” It is not worth the trouble, they said. While this could be brushed off as angry talk, many folks have actually left and pursued illustrious careers elsewhere.
PLACEHOLDERS
More depressing is the many ‘placeholders’ sitting in otherwise key positions at this premier university. Consider this at the top: Makerere currently runs without a chancellor, without deputy vice chancellor, Academic Affairs (DVCAA) and without deputy vice chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration (DVCFA).
These positions are filled by placeholders, not substantive holders. This renders them substantively empty, if not weak. While placeholders make a place look beautiful, they are inherently vulnerable: they live in constant fear of the appointing authority as their powers can be revoked anytime, which renders them easy to manipulate and compromise.
But the Makerere placeholders’ situation is beyond these inherent challenges of placeholding. While it is true that placeholders could actually work, Makerere simply ensures these placeholders are like flowers in a cemetery – overwhelming but not useful. Consider, for example, my wonderful friend, Prof Mukadasi Buyinza. He must be overwhelmed.
He is the substantive academic registrar of Makerere University, and currently holds the position of DVCAA. Credit to Buyinza; he agreed to the DVCAA placeholding to save Makerere’s face since many had declined the position because a more qualified man was still available. I perfectly understand the voices that have expressed disagreement with Prof Buyinza, but they ought to see his position as saving Makerere from an impasse.
But there is more coming. Recently, true to trademark, Vice Chancellor Nawangwe was on the plane to someplace abroad. The law requires that every time the VC travels, he leaves the VC office to his first deputy, the DVCAA. So, my friend, Prof. Buyinza simultaneously acted as vice chancellor; acted as deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, while also holding his substantive position as academic registrar – all at the same time.
Remember, presently, Makerere does not have a chancellor. It must have been overwhelming. But then one wonders, how does our very powerful ‘cabal’ fail to appreciate the damage of their bad energy towards Kakumba, which hurts the institution they call theirs? Even for optics sake, aren’t these things really embarrassing?
NEXT TAXI DRIVER
Prof Umar Kakumba’s professionalism made him a competitive bet for the position of next taxi driver after Nawangwe. And since the DVCAA position has tended to produce the next drivers, his genius sadly worked against him. But much more, he is too straightforward, and abuses the speeding limits.
While the passengers in this Makerere matatu definitely cherish this approach, the powers that be see this as politically naïve. While Kakumba does not identify with any political inclination – which is arguably the smartest move – it would have helped if he identified as NRM – even if quietly.
And since politics under Yoweri Museveni is heavily ethnically and religiously tinted, being Muganda and Muslim did not help matters much. Thus, they could not allow him display his talents anymore. Anyways, the grapevine has it that UBC political pundit, my ‘wall- whisperer’ friend, Associate Prof Sarah N. Ssali is being prepped for the job as new taxi driver after Nawangwe.
Ssali stands a chance especially that her politics is well- aligned, and her resume reads well in terms of networking, and negotiating deals (both openly and clandestinely). But this also means, Dr Ssali has to stand for DVCAA position in the next six months. But she really doesn’t have to if the matatu owners like her. My other friend, newly crowned principal of College of Humanities in the Social Sciences (CHUSS), Dr Hellen Nkabala is claimed to be waiting in the wings.
She is good competition for Dr Ssali: female, an equally accomplished deal-maker. And Prof Kakumba remains large – and tried and tested. But Makerere is a very fluid place – and with Yoweri Museveni getting more haggard and tired, and with sons-in-law, and brothers-in-law calling each other thieves, those positioning themselves for this ramshackle taxi called Makerere University ought to be smarter.
Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) might be on its deathbed, but academics will always organise, and fight back. This matatu might end with a completely different driver. (Continues next week).
The author is a political theorist based at Makerere University.