KAMPALA, 8 October 2026 — Makerere University has directed Dr Faisal Buyinza to step aside from leadership and administrative responsibilities while a committee investigates allegations against him, according to Nile Post’s report on a university letter dated 7 October. The inquiry concerns allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and domestic violence. The temporary arrangement does not establish that any allegation is true.
What has Makerere decided about Dr Faisal Buyinza?
Makerere has ordered him to step aside from leadership and administrative duties while a six-member committee examines allegations. Its report is due on 6 November 2026. The university says these are administrative measures, rather than a disciplinary sanction or a finding of guilt.
What stepping aside means
Buyinza heads the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis in Makerere’s College of Business and Management Sciences. CampusBee’s account of Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Sarah N. Ssali’s letter says the Dean of the School of Economics will oversee the department during the inquiry.
The letter also directs Buyinza not to contact, influence or interfere with complainants or witnesses. Those restrictions protect the process while the committee gathers evidence.
Nile Post quotes the university’s explanation: “These are administrative measures. They are not a disciplinary sanction and do not pre-judge the outcome.”
That wording matters. The decision concerns leadership and administrative responsibilities. It should not be described as dismissal or proof of wrongdoing. A final disciplinary outcome has not been announced in the correspondence described by the reports.
Who is leading the inquiry?
The six-member committee is chaired by Eng. Assoc. Prof. Dorothy K. Okello, Dean of Makerere’s School of Engineering, according to CampusBee. Its membership draws on academic, legal and human-resources expertise.
JUSTICE & CRIME
Makerere Orders Buyinza to Step Aside as Inquiry Begins
Oct 8, 2026
Oct 8, 2026
5 min read
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KAMPALA, 8 October 2026 — Makerere University has directed Dr Faisal Buyinza to step aside from leadership and administrative responsibilities while a committee investigates allegations against him, according to Nile Post’s report on a university letter dated 7 October. The inquiry concerns allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and domestic violence. The temporary arrangement does not establish that any allegation is true.
What has Makerere decided about Dr Faisal Buyinza?
Makerere has ordered him to step aside from leadership and administrative duties while a six-member committee examines allegations. Its report is due on 6 November 2026. The university says these are administrative measures, rather than a disciplinary sanction or a finding of guilt.
What stepping aside means
Buyinza heads the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis in Makerere’s College of Business and Management Sciences. CampusBee’s account of Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Sarah N. Ssali’s letter says the Dean of the School of Economics will oversee the department during the inquiry.
The letter also directs Buyinza not to contact, influence or interfere with complainants or witnesses. Those restrictions protect the process while the committee gathers evidence.
Nile Post quotes the university’s explanation: “These are administrative measures. They are not a disciplinary sanction and do not pre-judge the outcome.”
That wording matters. The decision concerns leadership and administrative responsibilities. It should not be described as dismissal or proof of wrongdoing. A final disciplinary outcome has not been announced in the correspondence described by the reports.
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Who is leading the inquiry?
The six-member committee is chaired by Eng. Assoc. Prof. Dorothy K. Okello, Dean of Makerere’s School of Engineering, according to CampusBee. Its membership draws on academic, legal and human-resources expertise.
The committee is expected to hear complainants and witnesses and give Buyinza an opportunity to respond. CampusBee reports that its findings and recommendations must reach the Vice-Chancellor by Friday, 6 November 2026.
New Vision’s report on the university’s 7 October announcement says the process will follow Makerere’s Safeguarding Policy, Sexual Harassment Policy and staff disciplinary procedures. It also emphasises that the university had made no finding of wrongdoing.
For students and staff, the immediate questions are how evidence will be received, whether people can participate without intimidation, and what the committee ultimately recommends. Its formation establishes a process for answering those questions; it does not supply the answers in advance.
Why the university is investigating now
The action follows renewed public allegations involving Buyinza. Reports identify his former wife, Hanifah Nakiryowa, as a person whose recent public statements brought the matter back into discussion.
Sunrise’s account of the announcement describes allegations concerning an earlier acid attack and alleged misconduct involving students. These remain allegations. The inquiry must assess evidence rather than treat public circulation of a claim as proof.
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Makerere had already issued an official statement on 1 October about concerns circulating over an unnamed member of academic staff. That statement reaffirmed its policies against sexual harassment, gender-based violence and misconduct, together with confidentiality and natural justice.
The 1 October statement did not name Buyinza or announce findings. The subsequent correspondence described in current reporting provides the more specific committee and temporary leadership arrangements.
What happened to the earlier criminal case?
The university inquiry needs to be distinguished from the earlier prosecution.
In a contemporaneous report published on 23 July 2014, Uganda Radio Network reported that the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued attempted-murder charges against Buyinza. The report said the prosecution had failed to produce further witnesses and that the court discharged him. Buyinza denied the charges.
That history must remain part of any accurate account. The old allegations cannot be presented as a conviction, and his denial of that charge must not be repackaged as a newly issued response to the current university inquiry.
Sunrise reports that Makerere’s institutional process is separate from the earlier criminal proceedings. Nothing in the university action described here establishes that the discontinued criminal case has been reopened.
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How students and staff can report concerns
Makerere’s 1 October statement directs people with relevant concerns to the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, the Dean of Students and its safeguarding platform. It also identifies counselling support through the university’s Counselling and Guidance Centre.
The official Mak Safe Space platform accepts anonymous or confidential reports and allows supporting evidence to be submitted. Its published contact options include call or WhatsApp on +256 791 908 171 and email at safeguardingliaison@mak.ac.ug.
These are standing university reporting channels. They should not be confused with any separate submission arrangements announced by the inquiry committee. CampusBee reports that the committee secretary will communicate its contact details.
What happens after the report?
If the inquiry establishes a case to answer, the matter would proceed to Makerere’s Appointments Board through the relevant disciplinary process, according to Nile Post. Buyinza would retain the right to a fair hearing.
The next substantive development is therefore the committee’s findings and any resulting institutional decision. Until then, reporting should preserve the distinction between an allegation, an administrative safeguard and an established finding.
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