Former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Principal Waswa Balunywa has once again found himself at the center of national attention following reports that he has been appointed to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Central Executive Committee (CEC), one of the ruling party’s most influential decision-making bodies.
The reports, which circulated widely on Friday night, were first shared by journalist Dickens Okello Honeystraw and quickly sparked discussion across political and social media circles. The development has generated interest because of Balunywa’s long-standing reputation in Uganda’s education sector and his recent legal troubles.
According to the reports, the appointment was made through powers available to NRM National Chairman and President Yoweri Museveni, allowing him to bring additional members onto the committee outside the regular elective process. Such appointments are often viewed as significant because they place individuals closer to the party’s highest levels of leadership.
Despite the growing excitement surrounding the news, there has not yet been an official statement from the NRM confirming the appointment. Political observers are therefore treating the reports cautiously as they wait for formal communication from the party leadership.
Should the appointment be confirmed, it would mark a major political breakthrough for Balunywa, whose leadership at MUBS lasted for more than a quarter of a century. During his time at the institution, he played a key role in transforming it into one of the most respected business schools in the region.
Balunywa’s reported appointment comes at a time when he is facing corruption and abuse-of-office charges before Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court. Prosecutors accuse him of allegedly overseeing staff recruitment processes without the approval of the university’s Appointments Committee between 2020 and 2023.
The former university boss has strongly denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Court proceedings are still ongoing, and no verdict has been reached regarding the accusations against him.
Regardless of the legal case, Balunywa remains one of Uganda’s most influential education figures. He is credited with championing the private students’ scheme that expanded access to university education for thousands of Ugandans and inspired similar models elsewhere. If the reported appointment is officially endorsed, it would signal a dramatic return to the national spotlight for a man whose influence has stretched across academia, public policy, and national development for decades.
