Makerere University has suspended Associate Professor and Head, Department of Economic Theory and Analysis, College of Business and Management Sciences, Dr. Faisal Buyinza, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment and acid attack from his ex-wife Hanifa Nakiryowa.
Dr Buyinza’s suspension from the institute was announced by the Acting University Vice Chancellor Prof Sarah N Ssali, in a letter dated October 7th, to all staff and students, noting that Buyinza has been ordered to step down from his position as the university institutes an investigation, into the allegations.
“With immediate effect and for the duration of the investigation, Dr. Buyinza has been directed to step aside from the headship of the Department of Economic Theory and Analysis and from any other leadership or administrative position he holds in the University” she said.
She added, “The Dean, School of Economics, will oversee the Department in the interim. Dr. Buyinza has also been directed not to contact, influence or interfere with any complainant or witness”.
Prof Ssali who reiterated the university’s zero tolerance to sexual harassment, abuse of authority or gender-based violence, noted that even though some of the accusations were the subject of police investigations and criminal proceedings between 2011 and 2014, the university is going to carry out an independent investigation and act on them after.
“Irrespective of those proceedings, the University has its own duty, under its Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment, its Safeguarding Policy and its Human Resources Manual, to establish the facts in this matter and to act on them” she said.
Prof Ssali noted that the committee chaired by Eng. Assoc. Prof. Dorothy K. Okello, Dean, School of Engineering, CEDAT – Chairperson, will hear every complainant and witness, and will give Dr. Buyinza the full opportunity to respond to each allegation, in accordance with the principles of natural justice, after which it will submit it’s report to the Vice Chancellor not later than Friday, 6th November 2026.
“These are administrative measures to protect the integrity of the investigation and those who take part in it. They are not a disciplinary sanction and are not a finding of guilt. The University will not pre-judge the outcome” she said.
She added, “Should the Committee find that there is a case to answer, the matter will proceed to the Appointments Board, where Dr. Buyinza will be accorded a fair hearing in accordance with University procedures. The University will inform the community of the outcome of this process”.
In a series of posts on TikTok recently, Nakiryowa, alleged that while she was his student at Makerere in the early 2000s, he withheld her examination marks until she agreed to marry him.
She further revives accusations that stem from the December 2011 acid attack on her outside his residence.
