Makerere University’s Mary Stuart Hall rehabilitation project has officially commenced, with Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handing over the site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) on May 31, 2024. This marks the second student residence to undergo rehabilitation, following Lumumba Hall, which was handed over to NEC in June 2023.
The project, fully funded by the Government of Uganda, aims to revamp the largest female Hall of residence, built in 1953. The rehabilitation work, costing UGX10.5billion, will cover roof repairs, plumbing and electrical systems overhaul, and external aesthetic works.
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“Now that we are in a girls’ hall, every detail matters. We must make this hall look like one that is going to house the future mothers and leaders of this nation so that when they leave, they feel that they have attended a leading university in the world.” – Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe
Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Government of Uganda for funding the project. He also commended NEC for their professionalism in handling previous projects within original budgets and timeframes.
Lt. Gen. James Mugira, Managing Director and CEO of NEC, reassured the management that the project will be completed on time and within budget. “With NEC, we bring on board military discipline and we don’t have red tape or bureaucracies; once a decision has been taken, it has been taken,” he clarified.
“I want to thank the Vice Chancellor for believing in and promoting local content, because NEC is a local company. With NEC engaging in such a project, we are first of all giving jobs to our young people, we are skilling them, we are saving foreign exchange that would otherwise be repatriated and as a country, we are building capacity.” – Lt. Gen. James Mugira
The project is expected to provide hands-on industrial training for students and improve staff professional profiles. The University Leadership looks forward to the rehabilitation works being expedited, with the current student leaders eager to witness the commissioning of the finished product.
“The current student leaders have challenged us that they would like to be around for the commissioning of the finished product and so I hope that we can finish these works and give them an opportunity to account to their electorate.” – University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda
