QFM
Retain both Dr. Ogwal Okeng and Dr, Okaka Dokotum- Ishaa Otto Amiza
21 July 2026, 11:47 am
1 9th July 2026, Kampala City
For about a month now, there has been lots of public concern about leadership and governance challenges in Lira University arising from a rift between the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Watson Ogwal Okeng and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Okaka Opio Dokotum. The dispute stems from the fact that Professor Okaka Opio Dokotum who is seeking reappointment for a second term has not been appraised by his supervisor, the Vice Chancellor, professor Ogwal Okeng, even though the Vice Chancellor wrote to his deputy as far as February 2026 informing him that his contract was ending on June 30th but he was eligible for reappointment for another term pending successful appraisal. We have also learnt that Professor Ogwal Okeng had not appraised his deputy and other university officers under him for the last five years without any known reasons.
We have also learnt that Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum submitted his expression of interest in February 2026 accompanied by a compiled cumulative appraisal documents for the last five years as guided by his supervisor, nevertheless, the appraisal was not done to date. We also know that Professor Ogwal Okeng went on sick leave sometime midmarch, which could explain why his deputy wasn’t appraised in a timely manner leaving the University withiut a substantive head. Insteaf of leaving the Deputy Vice Chancellor in office,the Vice Chancellor delegated the Senior Librarian Dr. Andrew Ojulong to serve as Acting Vice Chancellor while he was on sick leave.
Prof. Dokotum is known to have appealed to the University Council for guidance on the matter of his reappointment. According to records, the University Council sat on May 29h and resolved to give Dokotum a 3-month contract extension to allow for his appraisal and reappointment processes to be completed. The Council also removed Dr. Ojulong form acting as Vice Chancellor because they considered it irregular and put the deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs in his place. The Vice Chancellor is said to have challenged the authority of Council on the Council’s and VC’s WhatsApp posts the same day, encouraging staff to ignore the Council decisions. This is not only misconduct but abuse of authority and precedent.
Arising from the above, Prof. Dokotum obtained a court injunction on 30th June to restrain university management from throwing him out of the university in spite of the Council resolutions of May 29th 2026. Upon the expiry of the injunction , the Vice Chancellor returned pompous to the University from leave on July 13 th ,directing the Senior Security Officer, Emmanuel Peace Opolo on July 14th to impound the DVCs vehicle, ordering the withdrawal of the night guard assigned to the DVC, and the following day, the Ag Subsequwntly, an internal memo was published by the acting University secretary Mr. Atim Tom Charles announcing that Dr. Dokotum’s tenure as DVC (AA) has expired and they wish him the best in is future career, ignoring the decision of the University Council extending the term of office of the DVC_ Okaka for three months
A week before, the Minister for Education and Sports hosted the feuding parties, accompanied by the Chairperson Council and the Chancellor to try and deescalate the situation. The report from that engagement gave the public much hope that the crisis had been defused, but things escalated very fast with the abrupt return of the Vice Chancellor on 1 3th July 2026 which was accompanied by much pomp and fanfare, although we later learnt that Prof. Okaka Dokotum was not invited to the event.
Its well known that prior to the feud between VC and DVC ,there have beenseveeal allegations of nepotism,irregular recruitment of University workers,abuse of office,etal. This prompted a concerned citizen to petition the State House Anti -Corruption Unit, copied to the Ministry of Education, The Inspector General of Government, the National Council for Higher Education seeking for an investigation into the leadership crisis in Lira University and accusations of abuse of office, nepotism and corruption among others. The report of this investigation is not yet published.
IN LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, we the concerned citizens would like to state that Lira University, a public university situated in Lira City in Lango is a product of a protracted struggle and sacrifice by many individuals in various section of the Lango community. A difficult history defined the struggle towards the establishment of a fully-fledged University in Lango birthed from Gulu Constituent College. Recognizing the milestones and achievements so far registered by the University since it’s foundation, one cannot allow the uncontrolled ego and greed of individuals and thier cohorts in the university leadership to derail it from making progress. As those who sacrificed themselves for thr sake of a University in Lango ,cannot sit back and watch Lango sons fight each other for selfish reasons at the expense of the progress of the only public University in Lango
THEREFORE, as concerned citizens and leaders who led campaigns in various forms to push for the establishment of a fully-fledged University in Lango to replace the intended Gulu Constituent College in Lango; recalling the protest I personally led to remove the sign posts of Gulu Constituent College from Lango soil as a strategy to push government and Gulu University authorities to allow the creation of an independent University in Lango ,which triggered the speedy establishment of Lira University cannot go silent and watch the collapse of the University
NOW, THEREFORE, I note with deep concerns the ongoing feud between Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng, the Vice Chancellor and Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum, the Deputy Vice Chancellor over re-appointment and continuity in service of the University. I also don’t understand why a deputy Vice Chancellor deemed eligible for reappointment and invited to express interest has not been appraised but instead kicked out in such a humiliating and degrading manner even when he has a 3-month running contract given by the university council, and an instrument issued by the Chancellor. Unfortunately, the Vice Chancellor has failed to offer an explanation about the non-appraisal of his Deputy todate. This is very unkind and intriguing.!
THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS that Prof. Dokotum is being pushed out to pave way for a one Assoc. Prof. Judith Abal, the wife of the Vice Chancellor’s clan Chief, and brother of the Vice Chancellor. If this allegation stands, it would be unfortunate to discriminate a fellow Staff for the sake of a relative. This is conflict of interests which is illegal and criminal according to the Leadership Code Act , the Public Service Standing Order and the University and Tertiary Institutins Act.
In this context ,such conduct is despicable and destructive to the LEGACY of an academic ICON we have respected for along time. I would love to celebrate the achievements of the Vice Chancellor and his Deputy holistically.
We all know, Prof. Dokotum’s academic abilities, contributions to the subregion and immense sacrifice in helping build Lira University from scratch alongside his superior, Prof. Ogwal Okeng. It does not make sense to say Prof. Dokotum’s tenure has expired already when the Vice Chancellor’s tenure is still running till 2029! Moreover, the Vice Chancellor Professor Ogwal Okeng is the one who invited Prof. Okaka Dokotum to join him as DVC (AA) at Lira University. It is unfortunate, that the top administration of Lira University has turned the institution into a HUB or SANCTUARY for promoting hatred, sectarianism, personal greed, nepotism and in-fights against staff we are deemed non relatives of the chief executive.
Lira University once treasured for bringing academic hope and excellence in Lango and Uganda has now degenerated into an institution OWNED and OPERATED by a click of close relatives at the expense of the pride, legacy and integrity of the entire community of Lango and Uganda. The accusation of nepotism cannot be ignored given that this is a public university entrusted to the people of Lango on behalf of the people of Uganda.
My access to the administrative correspondences available on social and other media from the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, University Council, regarding the APPRAISAL AND RE- APPOINTMENT of Associate Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum indicates that Prof. Ogwal Okeng is still the Vice Chancellor of Lira University and in spite of the recent internal memo from the Ag. University Secretary and the nasty actions taken by Lira University management to deprive Prof. Dokotum form access to his office, facilitations and privileges, Prof. Dokotum remains the substantive Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs of Lira University by law. Failure to appreciate this fact by resorting to the ancient way of settling disputes is very unfortunate in an academic ( field of knowledge) institution.
WE MUST ALSO REITERATE that the earlier appointment of Dr. Andrew Ojulong, the Senior Librarian who is under the administrative supervision of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr. Okaka Dokotum to act as the Vice Chancellor, although overtaken by events was irregular, unprofessional and indeed done in bad faith. Council did the right thing to revoke that appointment and they were vindicated by the position of the Minister for Education and Sports and his technical team. I would implore the University CEO to oblige to that decision to restore peace and harmony in the University.
COGNIZANT OF THE LEGAL OPINION of the Deputy Solicitor General issued on 10 th July 2026 to effect that Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum has served his tenure of two terms as deputy Vice Chancellor (AA) and is no longer eligible for another term. The problem with this opinion (and we should remember it is an opinion, not a ruling) is that it doesn’t proclaim itself on the tenure of the Vice Chancellor creating room for suspicion. Logically, if Dokotum’s tenure has expired, it follows that the VC’s tenure has also expired. If the VC was eligible for another 5-year term which he has already been given, it follows that Dokotum should also get his second 5-year term. The Chancellor, Hon. Retd. Justice Benjamin Joses Odoki, a renowned lawyer and father of the 1995 Uganda Constitution has also taken a different position on this matter from the Solicitor General’s position.
NOW THEREFORE, WE THE CONCERNED CITIZENS, noting that Prof. Okaka opio
Dokotum served his substantive term of appointment by the Chancellor for five years from 2021-2026, with eligibility for his contract renewed for second term of five years just like the Vice Chancellor who got his second term renewed from 2024 to 2029, the earlier appointments being administrative;
In the spirit of brotherhood and continuity of the progress of Lira University,
In the Spirit of brotherhood of the people of Lango and all other relevant stakeholders
1 . Condemn and reject any attempt to throw out Assoc. Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum from his office as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Lira University while ignoring the precedence in the reappointment of the Vice Chancelor.
- Implore the Lira University Council and the Chancellor of Lira University to uphold the decision they made to reappoint Prof. Jasper Watson Ogwaf Okeng as Vice Chancellor for a second term from 2024 to 2029, and to appoint Prof. Okaka Opio Dokotum as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) for a second term from 2026 to 2031 in order to preserve institutional memory and continuity to build on the gains the university has made under the leadership of these two pioneers. This will also ensure fairness and equal treatment before the law.
- A Forensic audit be done to investigate issues of conflict of interests, favoritism in recruitment of staff, corruption and abuse of office and any financial losses.
- Demand the immediate action by the Lira University Council Chaired by renowned civil servant Mr. David Geoffrey Opio Okello to ASSERT itself, restore order, sanity and accountability as well as public confidence in the university.
- Lastly, we urge all individuals, students, alumni, parents, and all stakeholders to join hands in fostering dialogue, understanding and peaceful conflict resolution in Lira University to consolidate the gains the university has made so far.
Few individuals of Lango cannot afford to destroy the very University that has profiled our region nationally and internationally.
We MUST ALL UNITE TO RESTORE SANITY AT LIRA UNIVERSITY.
There is no place for nepotism, selfishness, in a public university because it is not private property or the exclusive domain of any family, clan or tribe. This is the reason I have repeatedly condemned patronage and any form of discrimination against humanity. Lira UNIVERSITY belongs to all AND everyone is a stakeholder by Constitutional duty. The people of Lango cannot afford to watch a public university that was brought as a product of much lobbying, campaigns, protests and sacrifices by the people being hijacked and run down by selfish self-interest of a few individuals.
Long Live Lira University, Long Live the Acadermia of Uganda
For God and My Country
SIGNED;
1. Hon. Ishaa Otto Amiza (Activist)