KAMPALA, UGANDA: Makerere University is on the hunt for over 100 billion shillings needed to renovate the student’s halls of residence. The university has nine halls of residence which include Lumumba Hall, Mitchell Hall, Livingstone Hall, Nsibirwa Hall, Nkrumah Hall, and University Hall among others and all are said to be in an alarming state.
According to Prof Alinaitwe Henry, the deputy vice-chancellor in charge of finance and administration, the renovation of the halls of residences will take place in phases and is expected to be complete in the next five years.
Prof Alinaitwe revealed this on Wednesday, May 04, at MTN Uganda headquarters in Kampala during a partnership conference between the university and the telecommunication giant where he received a donation of shs. 180 million from MTN to aid in the Makerere centennial celebrations as the institution marks 100 years of existence (1922-2022).
“Government has committed to revamping the halls of residence and the money needed is about Shs100b. The government will provide the funds in the long term,” Prof Alinaitwe said.
“As you know some of them are not in a very good shape, for example Lumumba Hall and some others need a touch. In addition, the main building that got burnt will also be reconstructed and the government has committed again. A contractor has been procured and work has started. We expect that by the end of this year, the building should have taken shape. As per now, the government has provided Shs21m,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of MTN Uganda, Mr. Somdev Sen, the company’s chief marketing officer said the partnership with Makerere is just the beginning of a lifelong partnership, calling it “a match made in heaven”.
“We are handing out Shs180m to Makerere for the celebration of 100 years, however, this is not a sponsorship or gift, it is a commitment on our part to work with the university for the better future of Uganda,” Mr. Sen said.
The centenary celebrations will take place from September 27 to October 10 at Freedom Square, Makerere University, under the theme: ‘‘A Century of Service to Humanity’’.
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