The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.

The Minister laid the foundation stone during a brief function held on Wednesday 18^th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.

Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.

The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement. Before his passing on August 29, 2024, after a short illness, the Minister of Education and Sports and the University leadership held several strategic meetings with Mr. Patel and his family regarding this donation. His family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.

Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.

The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.

The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.

Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.

“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant.  It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.

Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”

The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.

“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.

Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.

Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities.  We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”

Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.

“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.

“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.

Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.

“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100^th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said. 

“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.

“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.

On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.

“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.

Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.

“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.

Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework

“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.

Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.

He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.

The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.

“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.

“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.

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HON. JANET KATAAHA MUSEVENI TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE SCHOOL OF LAW NEW BUILDING, THE RENOVATED LUMUMBA HALL, AND LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES BUILDING, 18^TH DECEMBER 2024, 2:00P.M.

In line with her bid to improve the quality of education and student life, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni toured Makerere University on 29^th January 2021 to gain first-hand information and experience on the state of teaching and learning facilities, student halls of residence including Lumumba Hall, Mary Stuart Hall, and Africa Hall and other critical infrastructure.

After the visit, The Minister of Education and Sports presented a paper to the Cabinet and rallied the Government of Uganda and the Parliament of Uganda to prioritize the renovation of student halls of residence at Makerere University. 

Consequently, the infrastructural development plan, which is being implemented in a phased approach, has yielded positive results, with some of the construction and renovation works completed to-date.

Official Opening of the School of Law new building and the renovated Lumumba Hall:

On Wednesday 18^th December 2024, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports is scheduled to officially open the new building for School of Law and the renovated Lumumba Hall, both generously funded by the Government of Uganda. Hon. Janet Museveni is expected to arrive at Makerere University at 2:00pm.

School of Law new building: We are delighted that Hon. Janet Museveni who officially laid the Foundation Stone on 17^th May 2022 is returning to the Main Campus on 18^th December 2024, to officially open the completed School of Law building. The construction works funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, have led to a magnificent three storeyed building, housing Lecture, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, cafeteria, lactation room and other teaching and learning spaces. The works were undertaken by M/S CK Associates as the Contractor and Symbion as the Consultants.

Lumumba Hall:  On 27^th June 2023, the renovation works commenced, with the site being handed over to the Contractor-National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). The Government of Uganda funded the renovation work to the tune of UGX 9billion. The renovation works involved an overhaul aimed at restoring Lumumba Hall to its original beauty. It is important to note that Lumumba Hall has capacity to accommodate about 725 students.

“Lumumba Hall, which was built in the 1960s and officially opened in 1971 was the biggest Hall of Residence, but there had been no major renovation since the time it was constructed,” explained the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe while handing over the site to the Contractor on 27^th June 2023.

Subsequently, on 26^th July 2024, the Contractor (NEC) handed over the renovated Lumumba Hall to the Vice Chancellor.  “Lumumba Hall has been restored. I thank NEC for the quality of work and high level of professionalism in the execution of the entire project,” said Prof. Nawangwe.

Mary Stuart Hall: In line with the schedule following the Government of Uganda’s commitment to funding the renovation of student halls of residence at Makerere University, on completion of the renovation works at Lumumba Hall, the Contractor-NEC, proceeded to Mary Stuart Hall. The Government of Uganda is funding the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall to the tune of UGX 10.5billion. The renovation works, which commenced on 31^st May 2024 are on course.

Laying of the Foundation Stone for the proposed School of Graduate Studies building

Makerere University Strategic Plan highlights the transformation of the University into a research-led institution. This strategic direction re-affirms the commitment to graduate training as well as providing facilities and support services for graduate training.

To walk the talk, the University had to shift from the existing fragmented spaces for the graduate students for instance in the Main Library, Senate Building and in some Colleges, to finding a centralized home for graduate students, graduate training and support services.

We are pleased to report that through the advocacy and leadership of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, today, 18^th December 2024, we are scheduled to witness the Laying of the Foundation Stone for the School of Graduate Studies building.

This building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, who was an industrialist and Chairman of Tororo Cement. The Minister of Education and Sports and the University leadership held several strategic meetings regarding this donation with Mr. Hasmukh Patel before he passed away on 29^th August 2024 after a short illness.

The family of the late Hasmukh Patel and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building that will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.  May the good Lord continue to grant Patel’s soul eternal rest as his legacy lives on through the School of Graduate Studies building.

For details, please contact:  Ms Ritah Namisango, Principal Public Relations Officer, Makerere University, on Email: pro@mak.ac.ug, and telephone number: +256 702944224.