Kampala, Uganda | The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has officially discontinued all corruption-related charges against Prof. Waswa Balunywa, former principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), and his co-accused Jacqueline Namaganda.
According to a withdrawal notice dated November 7, 2025, signed by then-DPP Jane Frances Abodo, the accused persons were charged with three counts of abuse of office under the Anti-Corruption Act (Cap 166) and three counts of neglect of duty under the Penal Code (Cap 128).In court, Principal Assistant DPP Caroline Nabaasa presented the notice, after which Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit discharged both Balunywa and Namaganda and ordered the refund of their cash bail and release of sureties.
The case stemmed from allegations that between 2020 and 2023, Professor Balunywa had unlawfully appointed more than 180 staff at MUBS without approval from the institution’s Appointments Committee 103 academic staff, 17 administrative staff, and 69 support staff. Prosecutors contended that Namaganda, then Acting Director of Human Resource, failed to properly assess eligibility for several administrative recruits.
Balunywa’s extended tenure at MUBS had been controversial: his fifth term as principal expired in 2018, but he was reappointed by directive of President Yoweri Museveni, despite a letter from Education Minister Janet Museveni instructing the Education Service Commission to advertise the post for replacement. Prosecutors had argued this extended appointment triggered irregular recruitment practices.The withdrawal of the charges ends this particular legal battle, though previous reports indicated Balunywa also faced charges in another case tied to similar allegations.
Legal experts say that discontinuation of proceedings can reflect lack of sufficient evidence or prosecutorial strategy shift though it does not necessarily imply innocence. Balunywa and Namaganda are now formally cleared of these charges and their properties, including cash bail and land titles previously held as security, have been released.
For Uganda’s higher education sector, the case highlighted ongoing concerns about governance, recruitment transparency and institutional accountability. The outcome may prompt renewed debate over policy reforms and oversight mechanisms within public tertiary institutions.