Lira University Council Demands Formal Explanation from Vice Chancellor Over Unilateral Administrative Actions

LCC TV NEWS

Lira, Uganda – July 29, 2026 — The Chairperson of the Lira University Council has formally requisitioned an explanation from the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jasper Watson Ogwal Okeng, concerning a series of administrative measures reportedly enacted following his unannounced return to duty earlier this month.

In an official communication dated July 27, 2026, the Council underscored that its request is firmly rooted in the enduring principles of procedural fairness, fiduciary accountability, and sound institutional governance. According to the letter, Professor Okeng has been afforded a structured opportunity to elucidate matters stemming from his resumption of office on July 13, 2026, and the subsequent administrative directives that are alleged to have contravened or circumvented existing resolutions previously adopted by the University Council.

The Council’s correspondence reveals that during Professor Okeng’s period of convalescent leave, the governing body had enacted several binding resolutions pertaining to the interim leadership and administrative continuity of the university. Among these was the formal extension of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)'s contract for a period of three months, contingent upon the successful completion of a performance appraisal and the initiation of a due reappointment process. Concurrently, the Council delegated the Deputy Vice Chancellor to assume the functions of the Vice Chancellor, in full accordance with the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, with this designation subsequently ratified through an official instrument issued by the Chancellor.

However, the Council has since received reports indicating that Professor Okeng implemented several administrative actions almost immediately upon his reinstatement, allegedly without prior consultation, advisement, or formal notification to the university's supreme governing organ. The letter further articulates the Council's apprehension that the Vice Chancellor’s earlier-than-anticipated return may have transpired without the requisite formal communication to either the Council or the appointing authority, thereby raising substantive questions regarding procedural regularity and chain of command.

In reiterating its statutory mandate, the Council emphasized that, as the supreme governing body of the university as defined under the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, it bears the ultimate responsibility for overseeing institutional governance and ensuring that all executive actions are executed in strict compliance with established legal frameworks and administrative protocols.

The Chairperson's directive explicitly requests that the Vice Chancellor furnish comprehensive explanations concerning the contested administrative measures, as well as the precise circumstances that preceded and accompanied his return to office. The Council has indicated that the forthcoming response will be instrumental in determining whether the actions undertaken were consistent with applicable statutory provisions, extant Council resolutions, and the broader tenets of prudent university stewardship.

This development occurs against a backdrop of intensified scrutiny over governance structures and executive accountability within Uganda’s public higher education institutions, where fidelity to statutory processes and collegial decision-making remains fundamental to sustainable institutional integrity and leadership efficacy.

As of the time of this publication, the University had not issued any public statement regarding Professor Okeng’s official response to the Council’s inquiries. Stakeholders within the academic community and beyond continue to await further developments, as the situation underscores the critical balance between executive autonomy and collegiate oversight in the management of public universities.