The Vice President of Uganda, H.E Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, commissioned the new library extension at Makerere University on the 29th October 2012, amidst jubilations from the Makerere University staff and well-wishers. The library extension will provide an additional 8,000 sq metres of space and was constructed with internally generated funds. It is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities like research commons and ICT infrastructure. After commissioning the library, the Vice President took a tour around the facility and was quite impressed by what he saw.

“First of all I congratulate the ‘Mugole’ (groom), Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu for having been appointed Vice Chancellor of Makerere University,” said the Vice President amidst shouts and cheers of ‘Ddumba abeewo. Ddumba oyeee’ from the crowd, as the Vice Chancellor smiled.

“Documentation and information retrieval are important elements in academic institutions. I believe Makerere University has gained fame and good rankings partly because of having good repositories like this library, and embracing ICT. I urge you to put emphasis on research, since education is a priority area for government,” added Hon. Ssekandi.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu said, “I congratulate the Makerere University Library team headed by the University Librarian, Professor Maria G. N. Musoke for competing with several University Libraries in East and West Africa for this grant and emerging the best. We thank you and encourage you to write and win more proposals that will benefit this University. I also take this opportunity to thank the Government of Uganda for the conducive environment that has enabled us to carry out academic activities and also set up this facility.”

The Director for Higher Education Elizabeth Gabona who spoke on behalf of the State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, emphasized the need to instill a reading culture amongst the country’s young generation so that they grow up to appreciate and utilize high standard libraries like the one at Makerere University.

The Chairperson of Makerere University Council, Eng. Charles Wana Etyem, who was represented by Justice Stephen Kavuma (a member of Makerere University Council) had this to say, “I take this opportunity to thank parents and guardians who have faithfully paid both tuition and functional fees to enable their sons and daughters receive quality education at Makerere University. They deserve the credit for facilitating the development of such infrastructure as we see today. I also thank the Ministry of Education & Sports, the Government of Uganda, and the Parliament of Uganda who have supported Makerere University in our continuing struggle for increased funding through Internally Generated Funds, and other sources, towards Infrastructural Developments.”

In her slide presentation, the University Librarian, Prof. Maria G. N. Musoke chronicled the journey of the Main library, explaining that it this 1959 building has been extended thrice, to accommodate the growing academic transformations and increasing student population. She was grateful to the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the US $ 2.5m grant for the ICT infrastructure, new books and capacity building of library staff. She was also grateful to the Norwegian government, Swedish government and other development partners, whose contribution to the Main Library has been crucial.

Carnegie Corporation of New York thanked Makerere University, especially the Library Staff members for adequately utilizing the grant, and looked forward to future collaborations. 

Article by Ms Marion Alina
Public Relations Office, Makerere University.