Islamic University in Uganda academic staff elected new faculty Deans and Heads of department early this month (May). As part of the university’s law, the six elected Deans and Heads of departments will take up leadership and steer the faculties for the next three years, the Academic Registrar has revealed.
The Academic Registrar, Hajji Musa Kasiita said the University is obliged by law to hold elections of Deans of faculties and Heads of Department every three years.
“As the Academic Registrar of the University, I am obliged to organize elections of the Deans and Heads of Department every after three years as it is enshrined in the Act which governs this institution, he said.
According to the Islamic University in Uganda Act, Chapter 113, Laws of Uganda, Part VII Section 40, Sub-section 2, it states that “A Dean or a Director shall be elected by the members of the faculty or institute from among the Muslim members of the faculty or institute with the approval of the Council”
The Registrar who is also the returning officer said that the six faculties that include Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), Faculty of Education (FOE), Faculty of Law (FOL), and Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language (FISAL) elected their Deans, Deputy Deans and the Heads of Department of different disciplines.
Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, the pioneer faculty of the University elected Dr. Hassan Kiyingi and Dr. Mubarak Lubanga as the Dean and Deputy Dean replacing Dr Hussein Bowa and Dr. Sulaiman Wakabibi respectively. The Faculty of Education elected Dr. Amina Hassan as Dean and Mr. Tuwmebaza Alucon Auf as her deputy.
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences re-elect Dr Mwanga Hassan and deputized him with Dr. Kakoba Sultan who replaced Mr. Issa Kawolya.
The faculty of Science elected Mr. Adam Ali replacing Dr. Sarah Nachuha Kasozi. Adam Ali is deputized by Mr. Kabagambe Musa. The faculty of management studies retained the Mr. Kitakula Hussein Mubi and Mr. Walusimbi Yunus as Dean and Deputy Dean respectively.
The Registrar said the faculty of law, elected Mrs. Naiga Suuda as the acting Dean replacing Mrs. Saidat Nakito, who went for further studies to the United Kingdom to pursue a PhD.
The Academic Registrar said the Head of Departments were also elected at the department level to help in managing the academic and administrative duties of the University.
“Like the Deans, the Head of Department also have to play the same role at their respective departments,” he said.
Dr. Amina Hassan said her election as the Dean of Education comes with challenges but she is ready to face them and propel the Faculty to another level. “I think they saw that I had the potential to be the Dean. I never campaigned for it. I accepted the leadership entrusted to me and I will take on my responsibilities and duties as demanded,” she said.
She appealed to the Heads of Department to do their work as expected and also urged students to study hard for a better future.
According to the University hierarchy, the Head of Department reports to the faculty Dean who reports to the Vice Rector Academic Affairs though the Academic Registrar.