Abstract:
Triggered by fears that the top administration of Makerere University is overstaffed, this paper delved into the rationale underlying the positions of Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academics (DVC-A) and Deputy Vice Chancellor-Finance and Administration (DVC-F&A), despite the existence of the positions of Academic Registrar (AR), University Secretary (US) and University Bursar (UB). Noting that the five positions are in place to assist the vice-chancellorship, the paper purposely starts with outlining the role of the Vice Chancellor (VC) after which an effort is made to determine whether the positions of DVC-A, DVC-F&A, AR, US and UB assist the vice-chancellorship in some distinct way(s). Qualitative data were collected from the (amended) Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, 2001 (UOTIA) and the university’s restructuring report, 2001. The findings were that, in practice, the roles of DVC-A and DVC-F&A are distinct from those of AR; and UB and US respectively. Specifically, it was established that the DVCs assist the VC in policy formulation and the supervision of operations while the AR, US and UB are deployed in the execution of operations. It was concluded that all these positions, as well as those of the University Librarian (UL); Director of Human Resources Management and Development (DHRM/D); and Director of Planning and Development (DPD), have been necessitated by the university’s phenomenal expansion; diversified sources of funding; and changed/changing administrative approaches. The paper notes that, nevertheless, the UOTIA lacks in detail (on the job descriptions of these officers) and establishes dysfunctional responsibility lines between the offices of VC, DVC, AR, UL, US and UB. It is, therefore, recommended that parliament amends the act to: 1) describe the roles of these officers; and 2) make the AR, US, UB, DPD and DHRM/D responsible to the relevant DVCs rather than the VC.

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Ssempebwa, Jude (2009). Heavy job or heavy top? role of vice chancellor, deputy vice chancellor, university sectretary, bursar and academic registrar at Makerere University. Occasional paper submitted to the East African Institute of Higher Educatiion and Development, Makerere University.