General
Makerere Main Gate Reopens to Traffic
The Makerere University main gate has today Thursday 14th December 2017 been officially reopened for use after renovations that gave the primary entry and exit point a massive facelift. The penultimate opening was presided over by the Chairperson of Council Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem and witnessed by Members of Council, University Management, Kampala Capital Authority (KCCA) representatives; the supervisors of the project, Key partners, media and well-wishers.
The Chairperson of Council said that the newly constructed, wider and redesigned entrance was relocated last year in 2016 to pave way for Chinese Communications Construction Company (CCCC) to reconstruct a new structure that depicts the stature of the university.
“We wanted to have a main entrance that portrays the value, beauty and stature of Makerere University and I believe that this main gate once finished, is going to be the Face of Makerere we want to have,” he said.
To bring out the value and beauty of the face of Makerere, the road to the main gate has also been widened to six lanes and fitted with traffic lights at the junction with Makerere hill road, to regulate traffic flow. The road also has walkways for enhanced safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
“We are also planning to make this gate accessible to the people with disability. The gate will enable smooth entrance and exit to the general public, however, we expect them to follow the instructions that have been put in place,” he said.
According to Eng. Kibuuka Stephen, a specialist in Engineering Project Management- Directorate of Engineering and Technical Services KCCA, the gate will be fully ready for use in one month, after the final process of the designs and finishing that fit the taste of Makerere University. “As you can see we are in the final stages, within one month this gate will be communicating what Makerere really is. We want to finish it with marble and designs that communicate its prestige,” he remarked.
The Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, encouraged students to protect and keep the prestige of the gate as it appears in the Makerere University Anthem. “We should be proud of our own institution, this is a legendary gate, many prominent people have gone through this gate, so we should keep its prestige,” said Dr. Okello Ogwang.
The Newly appointed Director of Estates and Works Eng. Christina Kakeeto thanked KCCA and the Chinese Communications Construction Company (CCCC) for the quality work. She also thanked the Makerere University community for the patience exhibited during the construction. She also thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for being at the forefront of the project since its inception.
Artilce by Public Relations Office
The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Friday, 26th June 2026 handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence Site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Managing Director and CEO, Lieutenant General James Mugira for renovation and overhaul works. The UGX 12billion Government of Uganda-funded works, expected to be completed within a year, are the fourth project to be undertaken by NEC. They were preceded by; construction of the University Perimeter Wall, Renovation of Lumumba Hall, and Renovation of Mary Stuart Hall.
NEC’s Record Lauded
Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks at the handover ceremony lauded these projects. “The quality of work done by NEC makes us proud because we can finally say that we have Ugandans who can do the things, which we previously depended on foreigners to do.” He therefore thanked the Government of Uganda for fully funding the projects and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, whose visit set the renovation projects in motion.
The Vice Chancellor added that as the Alma mater for most members of both the Contractor and Project Management Teams, this was a moment of great pride as their expertise and skills have saved the country billions of taxpayers’ money. “Thank you for being patriotic”, he commended.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by noting that CCE Hall, by virtue of its location, provides a first impression of Makerere University as a whole. He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that upon renovation, CCE Hall would create a memorable and lasting first impression, exceeding even that of the renovated Mary Stuart Hall.
A Project Fueled by Nostalgia
Speaking of impressions, Lt. Gen. Mugira, with nostalgia recalled that close to 42 years ago, he not only attended his first lectures in Hall 1 of the CCE Complex but also, on a more personal note added, “my wife was a resident, and so I have every motivation to put in a lot of effort and make sure that I deliver more than was done with Mary Stuart and Lumumba.”
He therefore extended heartfelt appreciation to his Alma mater Makerere University for the trust and confidence bestowed in NEC, which underscored their ability to deliver. “Trust is earned through performance, through integrity and consistency, and your decision to engage us motivates us to work even harder to exceed your expectations.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe reechoed the need to ensure that the project is executed with adherence to the cost, quality, specifications and safety related issues as earlier shared by the Acting (Ag.) Chief Engineer of Estates and Works, Eng. Ezra Sekadde.
“NEC has already demonstrated this (with previous projects), and that is why we have all the confidence that you can deliver this project within 12 months” remarked Prof. Alinaitwe. He equally lauded the Project Management Team (PMT) led by Arch. Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere whose supervision ensures timely project completion.
Relatedly, Arch. Dr. Semwogerere was on 25th June 2026, the eve of the handover, promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, a milestone Prof. Alinaitwe attributed to his track record as Head of PMT. He therefore, on a light note, urged him to keep up the good work as this could equally contribute to his promotion to the rank of full Professor.
Also present at the handover ceremony was the Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) Prof. Anthony Mugagga, whose unit will be greatly affected by the renovations. He nevertheless welcomed and reiterated his full support for the project, noting that just as renovation of Lumumba and Mary Stuart Halls had resulted in many alumni revisiting, the CCE Complex would upon renovation attract former residents and teaching professionals to give back or forge new partnerships.
Student Welfare at the Forefront
On her part, the Dean of Students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli lauded the renovations of Halls of Residence as a clear demonstration of Government’s dedication to the improvement of student welfare, and creating an environment conducive for nurturing responsible citizens who can contribute to national development. She pledged her Office’s and the Student Leadership’s readiness to ensure that the renovated facilities used responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
As a resident of the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, 92nd Guild President H.E. Kadondi Gracious could not help but appreciate how impactful the renovation of CCE Hall would be to student welfare. “The female students will be very excited (to occupy CCE Hall) but the male students will be left complaining – so we shall be expecting more renovations, not just for the female but also the male students,” she amiably concluded.
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