By Cybernewsug | News Desk
Makerere University has appointed a six-member committee to investigate allegations raised by Hanifah Nakiryowa against associate professor Faisal Buyinza, while Parliament has questioned the institution’s measures to protect female students.
Makerere University is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of authority involving one of its senior academics, with Members of Parliament demanding answers about the institution’s efforts to protect students and ensure accountability.
The controversy centres on allegations raised by Hanifah Nakiryowa, the former wife of Dr Faisal Buyinza, an associate professor who previously headed the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis at Makerere’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).
The university has appointed a six-member committee to investigate the allegations and directed Buyinza to step aside from his leadership and administrative responsibilities while the inquiry is conducted.
The development came into sharper focus on October 26, 2026, when Makerere management appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central Government). Lawmakers questioned university officials about the allegations and the measures in place to safeguard female students.
The university maintains that it has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, gender-based violence and abuse of authority. However, the case has raised wider questions about how universities handle complaints involving lecturers who hold academic and institutional power over students.
#Allegations raised by former wife
Nakiryowa has used social media videos and public statements to recount her experiences during her relationship with Buyinza, whom she says was her lecturer when she studied at Makerere in the early 2000s.
Among her allegations is that Buyinza abused his position by withholding her examination results until she agreed to enter a relationship with him.
She has also made allegations concerning domestic abuse and the circumstances surrounding an acid attack that left her with severe facial injuries in December 2011.
The claims have attracted considerable public attention because they involve allegations of misconduct within a university environment, where lecturers are entrusted with teaching, assessing and mentoring students.
Nakiryowa has said that her experience began when she was a student and that the power imbalance between a lecturer and a learner made it difficult for her to challenge the alleged conduct.
The allegations have not been established by the current university inquiry. They remain claims that must be examined through a fair process, including an opportunity for the person accused to respond.
Buyinza has previously denied involvement in the 2011 acid attack and has denied wrongdoing in connection with the earlier criminal proceedings. He must be given an opportunity to respond to the specific allegations now before the university committee.
#Makerere appoints six-member investigation committee
On October 7, Makerere announced that its management had appointed a committee to investigate the allegations against Buyinza.
In a communication issued by Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Sarah N. Ssali on October 8, the university said the inquiry would be conducted under its Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment, Safeguarding Policy and Human Resources Manual.
The committee is chaired by Eng. Associate Professor Dorothy K. Okello, Dean of the School of Engineering at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.
Other members include Prof Engineer Bainomugisha, Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences; Dr Christine Mbabazi Mpyangu of the Department of Religion and Peace Studies; Ms Sumaiyah Nanyondo Sebuta, the university’s legal adviser; and Dr Joelia Nasaka of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources.
The university’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Deus T. Mujuni, is serving as the committee secretary.
According to the university, the committee is required to hear all complainants and witnesses and give Buyinza a full opportunity to respond to each allegation.
It was directed to submit its report to the Vice-Chancellor by Friday, November 6, 2026.
The university said the inquiry would establish the facts and guide any further action under its internal disciplinary procedures.
#Buyinza directed to step aside
As part of the measures announced on October 8, Makerere directed Buyinza to step aside from his position as head of the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis and any other leadership or administrative roles he holds at the institution.
The Dean of the School of Economics was assigned to oversee the department during the investigation.
Buyinza was also instructed not to contact, influence or interfere with any complainant or witness involved in the process.
The university explained that the measures were intended to protect the integrity of the inquiry and those participating in it.
It was, however, careful to distinguish the administrative decision from a disciplinary finding.
“These are administrative measures to protect the integrity of the investigation and those who take part in it. They are not a disciplinary sanction and are not a finding of guilt,” the university said in its statement.
Makerere further invited anyone with relevant information to submit evidence to the committee, promising that information would be handled confidentially.
The institution also pledged to protect complainants, witnesses and other participants from intimidation, victimisation or retaliation.
The university urged staff and students to discuss the matter responsibly, particularly on social media, and avoid comments that could expose complainants, intimidate witnesses or prejudice the investigation.
#MPs question university over student safety
The allegations were among the issues raised when Makerere University officials appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on October 26.
Kabarole District Woman MP Annet Kirungi questioned the university’s measures to protect female students, saying parents expect institutions of higher learning to provide a safe environment.
“I speak for the parents who send their children to one of the biggest universities in Africa, thinking that their children will be in good hands,” Kirungi told the committee.
University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda said Makerere had zero tolerance for sexual harassment and had established procedures for investigating complaints.
He informed the legislators that management had appointed a committee to investigate the recent allegations, invited complainants to submit evidence and asked the officer concerned to step aside.
Kiranda also said staff found guilty in previous investigations had been dismissed and assured the committee that justice would be served in the ongoing cases.
The parliamentary discussion placed the controversy beyond an individual dispute, drawing attention to the responsibility of public universities to protect students and ensure that allegations of misconduct are handled transparently.
It also highlighted the need for effective reporting channels, independent investigations and protection for people who come forward with complaints.
#The 2011 acid attack and earlier court proceedings
The current controversy has also brought renewed attention to the acid attack Nakiryowa suffered in Kampala in December 2011.
According to previous media reports, she sustained serious facial injuries and underwent extensive medical treatment and reconstructive procedures.
The attack led to criminal proceedings in which Buyinza was charged with attempted murder. He denied the charge.
The case was discontinued in July 2014 after the prosecution failed to secure the attendance of additional witnesses. Buyinza was subsequently discharged.
The discontinuation of the criminal proceedings did not result in a conviction against him. Equally, it should not be presented as a judicial determination that all the allegations raised by Nakiryowa were false.
The university has said that some of the matters now being raised were previously the subject of police investigations and criminal proceedings between 2011 and 2014.
However, Makerere maintains that the conclusion of those proceedings does not remove its responsibility to examine matters falling within its own policies and disciplinary framework.
The current university inquiry is therefore separate from the earlier criminal case and is intended to establish whether any conduct breached the institution’s rules.
#Why the case matters to university students
The allegations have renewed debate about the relationship between lecturers and students, particularly where academic staff exercise authority over examination results, progression, supervision and access to academic opportunities.
Universities depend on trust between students and staff. Lecturers are expected to assess learners fairly, provide academic guidance and maintain professional boundaries.
Where a lecturer is accused of using academic authority to pressure a student into a personal relationship, the allegation raises concerns about consent, institutional accountability and the protection of learners from exploitation.
Students may also be reluctant to report misconduct where the person accused has influence over their academic progress or future opportunities.
For this reason, the effectiveness of university reporting systems depends not only on written policies but also on whether complainants can report concerns safely and receive impartial treatment.
Makerere’s decision to invite evidence and promise protection against retaliation will be important in determining whether witnesses and complainants feel able to participate in the process.
The university will also face the task of demonstrating that its investigation is independent, thorough and fair to all parties.
#Makerere’s responsibility and the way forward
Makerere University has reiterated its commitment to protecting the safety, dignity and welfare of its students and staff.
Its investigation will test how effectively the institution can translate that commitment into action when allegations involve a senior member of the academic community.
The committee’s findings are expected to guide the next steps. If it establishes that there is a case to answer, the matter will proceed to the university’s Appointments Board, where Buyinza will be given an opportunity for a fair hearing under the institution’s procedures.
Until the process is completed, the allegations should not be treated as proven misconduct.
For students, parents and the wider public, the central concern is whether universities can provide learning environments in which academic authority is not abused and complaints are addressed without fear or favour.
The outcome of Makerere’s inquiry could therefore have implications beyond the individuals involved, particularly for confidence in institutional safeguarding systems and the standards expected of Uganda’s higher education institutions.
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