Former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Principal Waswa Balunywa is reportedly set for a new chapter in national leadership after reports emerged that he has been appointed to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC). The development, which surfaced on Friday night, has quickly generated discussion among political observers, education stakeholders, and members of the ruling party.
According to information shared by journalist Dickens Okello Honeystraw, the appointment is believed to have been made through powers exercised by NRM National Chairman and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. The party chairman is permitted to appoint certain members to the influential committee outside the normal electoral process.
Although the reports have attracted significant public attention, there had been no official communication from the NRM confirming the appointment by the time the story emerged. Political watchers are therefore awaiting a formal announcement from the ruling party to verify the claims and clarify Balunywa’s exact role within the top decision-making organ.
If officially confirmed, the appointment would represent a remarkable transition for Balunywa, who spent more than two decades shaping Uganda’s higher education sector. His departure from MUBS in 2023 marked the end of a long and influential tenure that left a lasting impact on business and management education in the country.
Balunywa’s name, however, has recently appeared in headlines for reasons beyond academia. He is currently facing charges before the Anti-Corruption Court over allegations linked to the recruitment of staff members at MUBS between 2020 and 2023. Prosecutors allege that the appointments were made without obtaining clearance from the university’s Appointments Committee.
The veteran academic has consistently denied any wrongdoing and entered a plea of not guilty when the matter came before court. The case remains active, with legal proceedings expected to continue as investigators and prosecutors present their evidence.
Despite the ongoing court battle, Balunywa remains one of Uganda’s most recognized education administrators. He is widely credited with pioneering the private students’ scheme, an innovation that expanded access to university education and later inspired similar models in several institutions across East Africa.
His legacy also includes founding MUBS in 1997 and guiding its growth into one of the country’s leading business schools. Having previously served on the board of Bank of Uganda, Balunywa’s reported elevation to the NRM’s top leadership structure would add another significant chapter to a career that has spanned academia, public service, and national policy influence.
