By Hannah Marion Namukasa
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has officially terminated corruption proceedings against former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Principal, Professor Waswa Balunywa, and his co-accused, Ms. Jacqueline Namaganda, effectively bringing to an end a high-profile legal standoff that had gripped the academic community for the past two months.
In a nolle prosequi dated November 7, 2025, and signed by former DPP Jane Frances Abodo, the prosecution informed the Anti-Corruption Court of its decision to discontinue all charges against the two.
“This is to inform court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to discontinue proceedings against A1, Professor Waswa Balunywa, and A2, Jacqueline Namaganda, charged with three counts of abuse of office c/s 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act Cap 166, and three counts of neglect of duty c/s 101 of the Penal Code Act Cap 128,” the nolle prosequi reads in part.
The charges, which had cast a shadow over Prof. Balunywa’s controversial reappointment as MUBS Principal earlier this year, stemmed from allegations that between February and April 2023, he irregularly recruited three administrative assistants who allegedly lacked the requisite academic qualifications.
Prof. Balunywa was first arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on September 2, 2025, and subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison as investigations continued. The prosecution had alleged that the recruitment process resulted in financial losses to the government, forming the core of the corruption case.
After spending three days in Luzira, Prof. Balunywa was granted bail of Shs 15 million cash by Chief Magistrate Racheal Nakyazze on September 6, 2025.
The DPP’s decision to terminate the proceedings now clears the veteran academic of all criminal charges, marking a dramatic turn in a case that had attracted wide public attention and debate within Uganda’s higher education circles.
Neither Prof. Balunywa nor Ms. Namaganda had publicly commented on the latest development by press time. However, sources close to the MUBS administration described the move as “a relief” for the institution, which has been under scrutiny since the case broke.
Legal analysts say the nolle prosequi effectively restores Prof. Balunywa’s standing unless new evidence emerges, but also raises questions about the quality of investigations that led to his prosecution.
