Makerere University public relations officer, Ritah Namisango has refuted media reports claiming that she has been fired from her role as publicist for the varsity.
This follows the appointment of the former MUASA Chairman, Dr Muhammad Kiggundu as the Acting Manager Communications and International Relations, a position that has previously been non existent.
On Monday afternoon, University’s Directorate of Human Resources wrote to Dr Kiggundu, informing him that the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, had authorized his appointment as Acting Manager Communications and International Relations in his office for a one year period.
The letter further explained Kiggundu’s roles and responsibilities which among others include providing overall leadership to the communications and international relations office and overseeing of the MUK Communications policy.
Kiggundu’s appointment has been interpreted by some media outlets as a demotion on Namisango’s side while others have reported that she has been replaced.
While speaking to SoftPower News on the matter, Namisango explained that she hasn’t been replaced, but instead her office and the international office have been merged to create that of Manager Communications and International Relations.
“I haven’t been replaced.What has happened is that they merged two offices namely Communication and International Office. So, they have created a new position of Acting Manager Communications and International Relations,” she explained.
“So, that is our new boss to the staff both in communication and international relations,” she added.
Ritah Namisango has been Head of Public Relations while Martha Muwanguzi has been heading the International Office.
She (Namisango) told this website that both her and Muwanguzi are still in the university service.
“We haven’t been fired.It is a merger of two units,” she said, adding that she retains her designation as Public Relations Officer.