While speaking at the handover and swearing in ceremony of the new tribunal chairperson and members, Justice Tweyanze urged the incoming team to be impartial, accountable, transparent, as well as good listeners while doing their work. “All hope is in you. It will be a tragedy to hear that what we hear in other institutions have befell your beautiful tribunal.” Tweyanze said
He urged the members to always embody the humility of their predecessors.
The new sworn in tribunal will be chaired by Hon. Rtd. Justice Vincent Zehurikize and will include among other members; Mr. Mugarura Adam Tusiime, Dr. Okongo Wilberforce, and Dr. Stadia Asiimwe.
Dr. Mary Gorret Nakabugo, the chairperson of the University Council urged the new tribunal members to keep the reputation of the university through exercising fairness and justice as they execute their duties. She asked them to always meet their obligations in an equitable and fair manner.
Mr. Elijah Wante who had served in the previous tribunal as the Chairperson since April 2010, congratulated the new chairperson and his team. Mr. Wante expressed the difficulty of the early days after his appointment as he had nowhere to benchmark from because Kyambogo University was the first to have a staff tribunal but was grateful to have pioneered this model. He commended the tribunal for being an internal mechanism of solving issues as opposed to going through tedious long court processes.
Justice Vincent Zehurikize, the incoming chairperson described the outgoing chairperson as very distinguished and was honored to take over a tribunal pioneered by a friend. He pledged to consult the outgoing chairperson and university management. He asked the incoming members to be cooperative.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Maria G.N Musoke representing the Vice Chancellor appreciated the outgoing tribunal for the job well done and handling cases and petitions as they came in. She commented that Kyambogo University has remained a university of choice for many students which is motivating and an indicator of relevancy.
The Chancellor, Prof. John Okedi commended the tribunal for playing a great role by enabling staff to lodge complaints. He encouraged the incoming members to meet their obligations in a proper manner. He called upon the Kyambogo University fraternity to be different and act accordingly with humility, the ability to learn and listen.
Kyambogo was the first University in Uganda to set up a staff tribunal with the aim of adjudicating disputes among its university staff.