Makerere University Explained

Makerere University
Motto:"We build for the future"
Type:Public
Vice Chancellor:Barnabas Nawangwe[1] [2]
Chancellor:Ezra Suruma[3]
Pushpin Map:Uganda Kampala
Coor:0.335°N 32.5675°W
Students:35,000+ (2018)[4]
Administrative Staff:3,174 (2018)[5]
Campus Size:300 acres

Makerere University (;[6] Mak) is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a technical school in 1922, and the oldest currently active university in East Africa.[7] It became an independent national university in 1970. Today, Makerere University is composed of nine colleges and one school, offering programmes for about 36,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates. These colleges include College of Natural Sciences (CONAS), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Engineering Art & Design (CEDAT), College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (CAES), College Of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHUSS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (COCIS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Bio-security (COVAB), College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and Makerere University Business School (MUBS). In addition, Makerere has onother campus in Eastern Uganda Jinja City.

The main administrative block was gutted by fire in September 2020 and the cause of the fire is yet to be established. The building is being reconstructed.

Makerere University is the alma mater of many post-independence African leaders, including Ugandan president Milton Obote[8] and Tanzanian presidents Julius Nyerere and Benjamin Mkapa.[9] The former president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, and former Kenyan president the late Mwai Kibaki are also Makerere alumni.

In the years immediately after Uganda's independence, Makerere University was a focal point for the literary activity that was central to African nationalist culture. Many prominent writers, including Nuruddin Farah, Ali Mazrui, David Rubadiri, Okello Oculi, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, John Ruganda, Paul Theroux, Nobel Prize laureate V. S. Naipaul, and Peter Nazareth, were at Makerere University at one point in their writing and academic careers.

Because of student unrest and faculty disenchantment, the university was closed three times between 2006 and 2016. The final time was on 1 November 2016 when President Yoweri Museveni declared it closed indefinitely.[10] The university was reopened in January 2017.[11]

History

Founding of the technical school

The trade school that became Makerere University began operating in 1921 with the first classes in carpentry, building construction and mechanics.[12] In 1922, it was founded as the "Uganda Technical College" with additional courses in the arts, education, agriculture and medicine.[13] That same year it was again renamed as Makerere College. In 1928, the vocational classes were separated from the college and renamed Kampala Technical School. In 1937 the college began offering post-secondary education certificate courses.

University

In 1943, the British Protectorate government proposed the university, which led to a controversial struggle. It was described as "a plot to steal African soil for European settlement," by the Bataka Party. In response to this campaign, there was rioting in the capital of Kampala.[14]

In 1949, Makerere College was granted university status and its name became Makerere College, University of East Africa.[15] In the same year, the Bataka Party had been banned by the British Protectorate government, because of acts of riot and arson committed after a Bataka protest gathering.[16]

Unrest in the 2000s

The university was closed three times between 2006 and 2016.[17]

Beginning on 1 August 2016, the non-teaching staff went on strike demanding back pay. The strike lasted three weeks and the government agreed to pay them by the end of October; however, the government failed to make the payment.[18] This was but one more broken promise in a cycle of failed promises, strikes and more promises. That strike was followed by a strike of the lecturers over unpaid incentive pay, and that strike was joined by students in solidarity. This led to President Yoweri Museveni closing the university "indefinitely". Additional protests, including from parents whose children were left hanging in mid-semester, led to Museveni appointing a special commission to try to rectify the situation but with no promises of reopening. The commission's report was due in late February 2017.

On 20 September 2020, the main building of Makerere University (the Ivory Tower) was severely damaged by fire,[19] allegedly following a probe by Uganda Parliament into financial mismanagement by university authorities.[20] [21]

100-year anniversary

In 2022, the university celebrated its centenary since its establishment as Makerere College in 1922. The institution was granted additional land for expansion into a university by Nsibirwa, a former Prime Minister of the Buganda Kingdom, in 1945. Despite facing numerous challenges in Uganda's political, social, and academic history, the institution has persevered for a century.[22] [23]

On October 7, 2022, a ceremony commemorating the centenary was held at Freedom Square, with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in attendance. A statue monument was unveiled at the entrance of the university's Freedom Square to mark this significant milestone in Uganda's educational sector.[24]

Cwur W:923
Cwur W Year:2020-2021
Cwur W Ref:[25]
Cwts W:1159
Cwts W Year:2020
Cwts W Ref:[26]
Qs W:951–1000
Qs W Year:2024
Qs W Ref:[27]
The W:801–1000
The W Year:2024
The W Ref:[28]
Usnwr W:=757
Usnwr W Year:2023
Usnwr W Ref:[29]
The Africa:=5
The Africa Year:2021
The Africa Ref:[30]
Usnwr Africa:14
Usnwr Africa Year:2021
Usnwr Africa Ref:[31]
Cwts N:1
Cwts N Year:2020
Cwur N:1
Cwur N Year:2020-21
The N:1
The N Year:2021

Organization

The University Council is the supreme governing body of the university while the Senate is the chief academic organ of the university.

Subcommittees of the University Council

Notable former and current faculty administrators

Other academics

Notable alumni

See also: List of Makerere University academics

Political figures and government employees

Film, television and radio

Sports people

Writers and journalists

Scientists

Others

Halls of residence

As of September 2015, the halls of residence at Makerere University included the following:[52]

For men

For women

For students of medicine in their final years

Postgraduate Hall

Upcountry campuses

In January 2010, the university announced the opening of two new campuses, one in the city of Fort Portal, approximately 310km (190miles), by road, west of Kampala, and another one in the city of Jinja, approximately 85km (53miles), by road, east of Kampala. The following courses are offered at the upcountry campuses:[53]

Eastern Campus, Jinja

Replacement of main building

In September 2020, a fire gutted the Main Building of Makerere University, destroying university records and the building structure.[54] A subsequent investigation by an eleven-person team could not establish a definite cause of the fire, but pointed to an electric fault as a likely cause.[55]

In August 2021, the Cabinet of Uganda resolved to break down what remained of the Main Building after the fire. A new building, which will be designed to look like the original structure, will be erected at the same location, at a budgeted cost of UGX:21 billion (approx. US$6 million).[56]

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Excel Construction Company Limited, a Ugandan company and a subsidiary of the Madhvani Group. The reconstruction process began in April 2022, starting with tearing down the structurally unsound original building, built in the 1930s and commissioned in 1941.[57]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prof Nawangwe confirmed Makerere University Vice Chancellor. 25 August 2017. 29 September 2017. Damali. Mukhaye. Daily Monitor (Kampala).
  2. Web site: 29 September 2017. New Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe Installed. 15 September 2017. Elias. Tuhereze. Ms Jane Anyango, Communication Officer and Ms Ritah Namisango, SPRO.
  3. Web site: Dr. Suruma Installed Makerere Chancellor . 18 January 2016 . 6 April 2018 . . Patience . Ahimbisibwe . Kampala.
  4. Web site: Makerere enrolment reduces by 15,000 . 6 April 2018 . 6 April 2018 . Kampala . . Wandera . Derrick.
  5. Web site: Makerere probe discovers 16,000 ghost students . 1 January 2018. Kampala . . 1 January 2018 . Damali. Mukhaye.
  6. Peter Roach, Jane Setter, John Esling, eds., Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2011;), p. 302.
  7. Book: Maathai, Wangari . Unbowed . 9780307275202.
  8. Web site: State House of Uganda . Past Presidents of Uganda . State House of Uganda . 29 May 2021.
  9. Encyclopedia: Julius Nyerere president of Tanzania . 29 May 2021 . Encyclopaedia Britannica . Encyclopaedia Britannica . 29 May 2021.
  10. News: 22 November 2016 . Statement: Makerere Visitation Committee lists responsibilities . Uganda Journalists' Resource Centre, The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) . https://web.archive.org/web/20161202022921/http://ugandajournalistsresourcecentre.com/statement-makerere-visitation-committee-lists-responsibilities/ . 2 December 2016 . live.
  11. News: 2 January 2017 . Makerere reopens to empty lecture rooms . New Vision. https://web.archive.org/web/20170103130553/https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1443193/makerere-reopens-lecture . 3 January 2017. live.
  12. Book: Uganda. Public Service Review and Re-organization Commission . 1990 . Public Service Review and Reorganisation Commission, 1989-1990, Volume 1 . Kampala, Uganda . Uganda. Ministry of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs . 272 . 32432462.
  13. Web site: Annotated History of Makerere University 1922–2012 . 90 Years of Makerere University . Makerere University . https://web.archive.org/web/20140911091621/http://www.90.mak.ac.ug/annotated-history . 11 September 2014 . live.
  14. Book: East Africa . A. J. Hughes . Pengiun Books . 1969 . 157 . Revised . Buganda Troubles in the 1940s.
  15. Book: Byaruhanga, Frederick K. . 2013 . Student Power in Africa's Higher Education: A Case of Makerere University . second . New York . Taylor & Francis (Routledge) . 20 . 978-1-135-51448-8., originally published in 2006,
  16. Book: East Africa . A. J. Hughes . Pengiun Books . 1969 . 158 . Revised . Buganda Troubles in the 1940s.
  17. News: Barungi. Andrew . 21 November 2016 . Makerere University is closed. Now what? . Uganda Journalists' Resource Centre, The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) . https://web.archive.org/web/20161202023049/http://ugandajournalistsresourcecentre.com/closing-makerere-university-not-solution/ . 2 December 2016 . live.
  18. News: Tusiime . Christopher . 30 November 2016 . Non-teaching staff in public universities to go on strike . Campus Bee . Makerere University . https://web.archive.org/web/20161202031818/https://campusbee.ug/news/breaking-non-teaching-staff-public-universities-go-strike/ . 2 December 2016 . live.
  19. News: 2020-09-20. Uganda Makerere University fire: 'Ivory Tower' gutted. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-09-21.
  20. News: Daily Monitor . Nawangwe on the spot as MPs resurrect Shs16.7b NIC scandal . 29 May 2021 . Daily Monitor . Nation Media Group . 14 August 2020.
  21. Web site: MSOBOR . CHEMONGES TIMOTHY . MPs demand investigations over the loss UGX 8 billion on Makerere University-NIC saga . Parliament Watch . 29 May 2021.
  22. Web site: Home . 2023-03-26 . Makerere University 100th Anniversary . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2022-05-29 . Makerere at 100: What needs to change ? . 2023-03-26 . Monitor . en.
  24. Web site: Independent . The . 2022-10-07 . Makerere University celebrates 100 years with calls to focus on science, research . 2023-03-26 . The Independent Uganda . en-US.
  25. Web site: Center for World University Rankings 2020-2021. cwur.org. 27 February 2021.
  26. Web site: CWTS Leiden Ranking 2020. 27 February 2021.
  27. Web site: QS World University Rankings: Makerere University. www.topuniversities.com. 27 February 2024.
  28. Web site: World University Rankings: Makerere University. www.timeshighereducation.com/. 25 August 2023. 27 February 2024.
  29. Web site: Best Global Universities in Uganda. U.S. News. 27 February 2024.
  30. Web site: Best universities in Africa - 2021 . Times Higher Education World University Rankings . 1 October 2020 . 27 February 2021.
  31. Web site: 2021 Best Global Universities in Africa. U.S. News. 27 February 2021.
  32. Web site: Makerere University Governance: Appointments Board. https://web.archive.org/web/20101113034412/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-and-committees/appointments-board-sub-committees/. dead. 13 November 2010. 30 January 2015.
  33. Web site: Finance, Planning and Administration . https://web.archive.org/web/20101115072047/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-and-committees/finance/ . dead . 15 November 2010 . 13 September 2012.
  34. Web site: Quality Assurance, Gender and ICT Sub Committee. https://archive.today/20121223004604/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-commitees/quality-assurance-gender-and-ict . dead . 23 December 2012 . 13 September 2012.
  35. Web site: Estates and Works . 13 September 2012.
  36. Web site: Staff Development, Welfare and Retirement Benefits . https://archive.today/20121222190236/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-commitees/staff-development-welfare-and-retirement-benefits . dead . 22 December 2012 . 13 September 2012.
  37. Web site: Students Affairs and Disciplinary Sub Committee. https://archive.today/20121223034039/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-commitees/students-affairs-and-disciplinary-committee/ . dead . 23 December 2012 . 13 September 2012.
  38. Web site: Honorary Awards Sub Committee. https://archive.today/20121222230334/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-commitees/honorary-awards-committee/ . dead . 22 December 2012 . 13 September 2012.
  39. Web site: Audit Sub Committee . https://archive.today/20121223094949/http://governance.mak.ac.ug/council-commitees/audit-committee/ . dead . 23 December 2012 . 12 September 2012.
  40. Web site: 26 August 2018 . Prof. William Bazeyo takes over as Makerere university Deputy Vice Chancellor . 18 September 2017 . Campus Times Uganda . Philimon Badagawa . Kampala.
  41. News: New Makerere University Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe Installed. 2017-09-15. Makerere University News Portal. 2017-09-20.
  42. News: Nawangwe elected Makerere Vice Chancellor. Daily Monitor. 2017-09-20. en-UK.
  43. Web site: Celebrating Ngugi wa Thiong'o at 70 . African-Writing Online.com . 15 January 2012.
  44. Web site: . Breaking: NRM's Anita Among Wins Speakership Race . 25 March 2022 . Maurice Muhwezi . 25 March 2022 . Mukono, Uganda.
  45. News: Special Sitting of the Supreme Court of Belize. 28 March 2001. 20 April 2012. https://archive.today/20120716040033/http://search.digitalreasoning.com/WBIL/03/WBIL2005_55117.txt. 16 July 2012. dead. Press Office of the Government of Belize.
  46. News: Uganda pins EALA speaker hopes on Dora Byamukama. New Vision. John. Masaba. Kizito. Musoke. 2 June 2012. 5 April 2020.
  47. Web site: Hon. Dora Byamukama - Uganda. EALA. 31 March 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091524/http://www.eala.org/interact/contact-members/426-hon-dora-byamukama-uganda.html. 2 April 2015.
  48. Web site: Makerere Gets Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library. Ainebyoona. Emmanuel. 15 February 2015. 15 February 2015. Daily Monitor (Kampala).
  49. Kyemba, Henry. A State of Blood, p. 21
  50. News: Looking back on Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi's illustrious career . . 7 March 2017 . 9 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170410134503/http://www.ntv.co.ug/news/local/07/mar/2017/looking-back-jehoash-mayanja-nkangis-illustrious-career-16475#sthash.ilU0gKGN.7U8tMKy2.dpbs . 2017-04-10 . dead .
  51. Web site: Business Daily Africa . Top 40 Women Under 40 in Kenya . 2017 . 11 November 2017 . . Nairobi .
  52. Web site: The stories behind Makerere University halls of residence . 2 September 2015 . 20 February 2014 . and Rose Rukundo . Grace Kenganzi . . Kampala.
  53. Web site: Makerere VC Rolls Out 2010 Plan for Varsity . Katherine . Haywood . 5 January 2010 . 30 January 2015 . Daily Monitor (Kampala).
  54. Web site: Uganda Makerere University fire: 'Ivory Tower' gutted . 20 September 2022 . . 30 April 2020 . BBC News . London, United Kingdom.
  55. Web site: Inside Makerere University fire report . . 23 April 2021 . Benson Tumusiime and Patience Ahimbisibwe . 30 April 2022 . Kampala, Uganda.
  56. Web site: Makerere University main building to be demolished . . 31 August 2021 . The Independent . 30 April 2022 . Kampala, Uganda.
  57. Web site: Makerere knocks down its iconic Main Building . . 30 April 2022 . Jane Nafula . 30 April 2022 . Kampala, Uganda.

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