A number of local and international firms from China, Korea and Uganda have expressed interest in developing Makerere University’s land following a call put out by the University through the media in January 2014. The land, found in different parts of the University estate namely: Main Campus, Katalemwa, Makindye, Bwaise and Kololo, will be developed under the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangement, in what has been code named the ‘Makerere University Infrastructure Development Marshall Plan’ covering 11 projects which include;

1. Makerere University Teaching Hospital
2. Makerere University Student Resource Centre
3. Student Hostels at the Main Campus and Kabanyolo
4. Makerere University Hotel and Convention Centre
5. Makerere University Centre for Innovation and Technology Incubation
6. Makerere University perimeter fence and Commercial Buildings
7. Transport Hub
8. Middle Income Apartments
9. Upper Market Apartments
10. Makerere University Centre for Gender and Development Studies
11: Makerere University School of Law

An artistic impression of the proposed Hotel and Convention Centre as part of the Infrastructure Marshall Plan 2014, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

Top Management speaks out
Commenting about the developments, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu said, “We are very serious about Public Private Partnerships because they are the best way to advance these projects. One of our major resources is land and we shall fully utilize it for all the projects. We would like to start with the perimeter wall, Students’ Centre, and the Hotel as a priority but this will also depend on the interests of the investors.”

“When completed, these projects will save money. We spend a lot on conferences and residences for external examiners, which money can be saved if we have facilities for such activities. About 1billion shillings goes to external examiners annually and another 600m to conferences.  We intend to have shopping malls around the perimeter wall to generate more income too,” added the Vice Chancellor.

A Committee, headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration (DVCFA), Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has been set up to see to the successful implementation of the projects. Other members on the Committee include the University Secretary, David Kahundha Muhwezi; the Director, Planning and Development Department (PDD), Dr. Florence Nakayiwa; Assoc. Prof. Anthony Keraali of the College of Engineering Design Art and Technology (CEDAT); the Director Estates and Works Department , Eng. Fred Nuwagaba and a Legal Advisor. Overall guidance for the project will be given by the University Council.

“These developments will protect the land and diversify the University’s income base. The projects will also avail more lecture space for students,” explained DVCFA Prof. Nawangwe.  

According to the Director PDD, Dr. Florence Nakayiwa, “Twelve firms have so far responded to the call. These firms are comprised of both building companies and transaction advisors. We are glad that the market is receptive to this call. We have now asked them to undertake feasibility studies of the different projects and report back by September 2014. We are optimistic that ground works will begin as soon as we have all the appropriate processes in place.”

An artistic impression of the proposed Students’ Resource Centre as part of the Infrastructure Marshall Plan 2014, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The place of the Master Plan
In April 2014, Makerere University rolled out a University Infrastructure Master plan and sought input from stakeholders. This plan covers the Main campus, the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo (MUARIK). “The Marshall Plan is a smaller component of the Master plan. In the Master plan, aspects like zoning, age of buildings, utility distribution, traffic flow and future use of available space are considered; whereas the Marshall plan is only focusing on key building projects as derived from the Master Plan,” clarified Dr. Nakayiwa.

Please see Downloads below for a brief of each proposed project.

By Marion Alina, Public Relations Office

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