The Government of Uganda will contribute US $5m towards the construction of the H.E Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library at Makerere University. This pledge was made public by H.E Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Vice President of Uganda, who was representing His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, at a high profile launch of the aforementioned library on 13^th February 2015.

The Vice President commended H.E Kibaki as a true Pan- Africanist who has made tremendous contributions not only in the East African Community but across the continent. Among his achievements, H.E Kibaki has a track record of streamlining Kenya’s finance Ministry and laying a firm foundation for skyrocketing her economy to a middle income country.

Makerere University chose to immortalise H.E Kibaki with a modern state-of-the art twin-tower library estimated to cost US $50m. One of the towers of this library will have 20 storeys and the other 15. In addition, the School of Economics has been renamed ‘H.E Mwai Kibaki School of Economics,’ in recognition of his achievements as the first African student to score a first class degree. At undergraduate level (1951-53), H.E Kibaki studies a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, History and Political Science of Makerere University, before proceeding to the London School of Economics (LSE), where he graduated with a BSc Public Finance with Distinction. He later returned to serve his alma mata as an Assistant lecturer in the Department of Economics between 1958-60.

The Presidential Library will host the Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics, and the East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy. As part of the day’s proceedings, H.E Kibaki was installed on the symbolic Endowed Chair in Economics by the Makerere University Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera. This was at a colourful ceremony in the historic University Main Hall, where H.E Kibaki clad in his doctoral gown, walked in to a thunderous applause from the congregation. He smiled in acknowledgement of the warm welcome.

According to the Chancellor, the H.E Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics will fund and support an internationally credentialed Professor of Economics to teach, research and mentor undergraduate, graduate and post-doctorate students in this field. “The Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy will provide unique opportunities for African Ministers of Finance, Permanent Secretaries and Secretaries to the Treasury to become Scholars-in-residence, research and meet to discourse on Africa’s development agenda,” he said. The Centre will also be a repository of H.E. Mwai Kibaki’s personal papers, authored policy monographs, books, memorabilia of H.E Mwai Kibaki’s 50+ years of public service.

Chancellor Kagonyera was grateful to the School of Economics under the leadership of Dr. Edward Bbaale (Dean) and the College of Business and Management Sciences led by Dr. Eria Hisali (Principal) for embracing the Presidential project.

Earlier in the day, H.E Kibaki unveiled a plate renaming the School of Economics to H.E Mwai Kibaki School of Economics, before proceeding to lay a foundation stone for the construction of the much anticipated Presidential Library at the current Department of Performing Arts and Film grounds.

In his inaugural speech titled ‘Unlocking East Africa’s Intellectual Capital,’ H.E Kibaki challenged the elite to use their intellectual capital to transform the East African Community by inspiring and offering practical guidance to society.  He asserted that in this age of advanced communication technologies, intellectuals should aspire to be more practical and not wait for politicians to invite them to make their contribution. “It is important to acknowledge that intellectualism for its own sake is a luxury Africa cannot afford any longer. It is our business to determine our destiny as a bloc. Indeed, our shared circumstances and our common challenges call for a common approach that only a properly integrated East African Community can withstand.  It is in this context that the proposed library and policy centre will become relevant to East Africa, Africa and the world,” he added. “That is why my appeal to our intellectuals is to help the society overcome numerous artificial barriers that slot individual East African states into stuffy pigeonholes. East Africa deserves fresh air!” he emphasised.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu expressed gratitude to H.E Kibaki for honouring the proposal to construct a Presidential Library in his name at Makerere University. “The Presidential Library will be an outstanding achievement not only for Makerere University but also the entire region and beyond. I thank the Government of Uganda and especially the President Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for supporting this initiative.” Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu also appreciated Her Excellency, Angellina Waphakabulo and Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Maj. Geoffrey Okanga for their support towards the project.

The Chairperson of the Makerere University Council, Eng. Dr. Wana Etyem pledged Council’s support to the successful completion of the project. “I would like to appreciate the contribution of the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Mr. George Jalobo Piwang for ensuring that this day comes to pass. The proposed establishment of this project could not have come at a more opportune moment to inspire and energise the first tracking of similar endowed Chairs across Makerere University.”

According to Dr. Edward Bbaale, “the London School of Economics has now moved to Makerere University. The Presidential Library project will go a long way in promoting research in economics.”

This function was graced by the Hon. Minister of Education and Sports Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, who challenged all Makerere University alumni and well wishers to support this initiative. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include a high power delegation from Kenya, former Vice Chancellors of Mak, Representatives from the President’s Office, High Commissioners, Members of Staff and Students of Mak, and many other high ranking officials.

Article by Hasifah Kabejja and Marion Alina.

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