Former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) principal Prof Waswa Balunywa has secured bail in two corruption-related cases after spending three nights on remand at Luzira Prison.
Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Racheal Nakyazze granted him temporary freedom on Friday. She ordered him to deposit Shs 5 million in the first case and Shs 10 million in the second. The first file involves alleged irregular appointments of unqualified staff, while the second stems from mass recruitment at MUBS.
Each of his sureties committed Shs 50 million non-cash in the first case and Shs 100 million non-cash in the second. The court also retained his passport and a land title to secure his release.
“Bail is a constitutional right, and discretion lies with the judicial officer. The sureties presented are substantial and capable of ensuring the applicant’s attendance,” Nakyazze said. The court scheduled October 15 for mention and pre-trial sessions in both cases.
Prosecutors opposed bail, insisting that his sureties were too young and that two active files justified denial. However, the magistrate disagreed. She ruled that his son and sister, both professionals, had strong ties to him and could guarantee compliance. She also reminded prosecutors that the presumption of innocence remains central to justice.
According to charge sheets filed by outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions Jane Frances Abodo, Prof Balunywa abused his office between 2020 and 2023. He allegedly appointed 103 academic staff, 17 administrative staff, and 69 support staff without approval from the Appointments Committee. In another file, he recruited three assistants who lacked the required qualifications, creating financial strain for government.
He faces the charges alongside former Acting Human Resource Director at MUBS, Jacqueline Namaganda, who separately faces three counts of neglect of duty. Both pleaded not guilty in court.
Prosecutors also argued that Prof Balunywa had ignored earlier summons. Yet his lawyer, Asuman Matovu, countered that the professor appeared as soon as he received proper service. Matovu further defended the sureties, saying credibility and family ties matter more than age. The magistrate agreed and ruled in his favour.
Prof Balunywa retired in May 2023 after 26 years at MUBS. His stay beyond 2018 drew controversy when Education Minister Janet Museveni directed the Education Service Commission to find his replacement. President Museveni later overturned that directive and ordered his reappointment, citing his “liberation ideology” and leadership record. Prosecutors now argue that this extension enabled the contested appointments and sparked the current abuse of office charges.