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