Universities Codexery

Makerere University

Uganda's oldest and largest university, founded in 1922.

Makerere University, established as a technical school in 1922, is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning.[1] It opened its doors to only 14 day students studying carpentry, building, and mechanics.[2] The university now has 35,000 students across 15 colleges and institutes.[3]

Quick Facts

Motto
"We build for the future"
Parent
Formerly the University of London and the University of East Africa
Vice chancellor
Barnabas Nawangwe
Chancellor
Crispus Kiyonga
City
Kampala
Country
Uganda
Students
35,000+ (2018)
Administrative staff
3,174 (2018)

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

The trade school began operating in 1921 with classes in carpentry, building construction, and mechanics.[4] The university was closed three times between 2006 and 2016 due to student unrest and faculty disenchantment.[5] On 20 September 2020, the main building (the Ivory Tower) was severely damaged by fire.[6] The institution that would become Makerere University started as a trade school in 1921, offering initial instruction in carpentry, building construction, and mechanics.[4]

In 1922, it was formally established under the name "Uganda Technical College," and later that same year its designation changed to Makerere College.[4] A 1945 land grant for university expansion came from Nsibirwa, who had previously served as Buganda Kingdom's prime minister.[7] Demolition of the fire-damaged original building, which had been constructed in the 1930s and opened in 1941, commenced in April 2022 as the first phase of reconstruction.[8] A centenary celebration took place in 2022, marking one hundred years since the founding of Makerere College in 1922.[7]

What the cited sources add

The university's centennial website states that Makerere opened to only 14 students in 1922 and has grown to become one of the most prestigious universities in Africa.[2] The same source notes that the university now has 35,000 students across 15 colleges and institutes.[3] The Independent Uganda also reported that University Council Chairperson Lorna Magara said the university should be known by its research outputs rather than strikes.[3] The centennial website mentions that on March 30, 2023, Makerere organized a symposium on the role of universities in shaping national development.[2]

The Independent Uganda notes that academicians have pointed out the university faces a problem in translating research into services and products that benefit the community.[3]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Peter Roach, Jane Setter, John Esling, eds., Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (Cambridge University Press, 2011; ), p. 302.; Maathai, "Unbowed", Knopf Doubleday Publishing, 4 September 2007 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. "Home", Makerere University 100th Anniversary. facts only, no text reused. 100.mak.ac.ug
  3. "Makerere University celebrates 100 years with calls to focus on science, research", The Independent Uganda, 2022-10-07. facts only, no text reused. independent.co.ug
  4. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uganda. Public Service Review and Re-organization Commission, "Public Service Review and Reorganisation Commission, 1989-1990, Volume 1", Uganda. Ministry of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs, 1990, p. 272; Uganda. Public Service Review and Re-organization Commission, "Public Service Review and Reorganisation Commission, 1989-1990, Volume 1", Uganda. Ministry of Public Service and Cabinet Affairs, 1990, p. 272; "Annotated History of Makerere University 1922–2012", 90 Years of Makerere University; Uganda. Public Service Review and R en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Statement: Makerere Visitation Committee lists responsibilities", Uganda Journalists' Resource Centre, The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), 22 November 2016; "Makerere reopens to empty lecture rooms", New Vision, 2 January 2017; BBC News, "Uganda Makerere University fire: 'Ivory Tower' gutted", British Broadcasting Company, 20 September 2022 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Uganda Makerere University fire: 'Ivory Tower' gutted", BBC News, 2020-09-20; Daily Monitor, "Nawangwe on the spot as MPs resurrect Shs16.7b NIC scandal", Nation Media Group, 14 August 2020; MSOBOR, "MPs demand investigations over the loss UGX 8 billion on Makerere University-NIC saga", Parliament Watch (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Home", Makerere University 100th Anniversary; "Makerere at 100: What needs to change ?", Monitor, 2022-05-29 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Makerere University" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jane Nafula, "Makerere knocks down its iconic Main Building", Daily Monitor, 30 April 2022 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Makerere University (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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