General
Tanzanian PM Rt. Hon. Majaliwa Graces Islam@75 & MUMSA@50 Celebrations
The clouds gathered as the clock struck midday, threatening to pour out their rain, perhaps to bless the day’s proceedings, as the Muslim community gathered on Saturday 17th December 2022 at the Main Campus to celebrate 75 years of Islam and 50 years of the Makerere University Muslim Students Association (MUMSA). Suddenly, and as if sensing that the dignitaries were about to arrive, the dark clouds cleared, giving way to a bright sunny afternoon. Right on cue, a grand motorcade gently made its way to the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility, stopping right in front of the Main Entrance. Out he alighted, graceful, resplendent in his flowing white tunic to exchange Salaams with the welcoming party.
Rt. Hon. Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chief Guest at the celebrations had arrived, accompanied by the Tanzania Chief Mufti – Sheikh Dr. Aboubakary Zubeiry, Zanzibar Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh bin Omar Kaabi, Ministers, Tanzanian High Commissioner to Uganda – H.E. Dr. Aziz Ponary Mlima and other dignitaries. On hand to receive the Chief Guest were the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs – Hon. Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, Acting Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) – Prof. Umar Kakumba, Turkish Ambassador – H.E. Fikret Kerem Alp represented by his Deputy, Uganda Supreme Mufti – Sheikh Muhammad Shaban Galabuzi, Deputy Supreme Mufti – Sheikh Abdallah Semambo, Dean of Students – Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli, Principal College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) – Prof. Josephine Ahikire, University Imaam – Dr. Sowed Juma Mayanja, Patron MUMSA – Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Head Department of Journalism and Communication and Chairperson Makerere University Muslim Staff Association (MUMSTAF) – Dr. Aisha Sembatya Nakiwala and other officials.
Welcoming the Chief Guest, Prof. Kakumba conveyed the warm greetings of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe who was away on official duty and thanked Rt. Hon. Majaliwa for leading the delegation to represent the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the esteemed occasion. “Makerere has grown by leaps and bounds from the good establishment and relationship it has enjoyed with the people and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.”
The Acting Vice Chancellor added that the University Mosque, officially opened in May 1948 by His Highness Crown Prince Abdulla of Zanzibar, is testimony of this good relationship that has existed between Makerere and the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Prof. Kakumba noted that the University Management nevertheless takes cognizance of the fact that Makerere is a secular university that highly respects and gives due consideration to the different religious affiliations and the freedom of worship. “It is the reason why the Management has been very supportive of the different sects of religion and creating opportunity for their growth and engagement of knowledge. For example, under the leadership of the Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University hosts many centres of languages, among them the Centre for Arabic Language.”
He concluded by admitting that in addition to priding itself in a century of training Human Capital and leadership for the region such as Tanzania’s Founding Father H.E. Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Makerere University is privileged to host the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre. He therefore requested the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister to convey the institution’s warm greetings to H.E. Suluhu Hassan, whose role as Head of State has inspired many young women particularly those of the Muslim faith to take on leadership roles.
Congratulating Makerere upon celebrating 100 years of existence, Rt. Hon. Majaliwa Majaliwa recognized the University’s prestigious role in educating leaders for the region in general and H.E. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and H.E. Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania in particular.
“I also understand the relationship you have between Makerere and the University of Dar-es-Salaam and the programme of exchange of students. This is of course making the East African Community to be strong, and we expect to establish a lot of programmes that will develop our colleges” added the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister.
In the true spirit of the East African Community, Rt. Hon. Majaliwa Majaliwa delivered his congratulatory remarks in Kiswahili.
“I am happy to be here today because of two important reasons, one is we are celebrating 75 years of Islam and the second one, the Chief Guest today is going to deliver the speech through Kiswahili, which is the EAC language and AU language, so I will try to go slowly so that you don’t get lost” he counseled, much to the amusement of the majority English-speaking audience.
Prior to the Chief Guest’s address, the Deputy Turkish Ambassador in his remarks acknowledged that Makerere plays a vital role in developing human capital for the improvement of Uganda and the East African Community, “I think this country is lucky to have such a well-established and qualified university because education of new generations is the most essential part of development and stability of the country.”
He added that the Republic of Turkey seeks mutual gains and interests in its relationship with Uganda through humanitarian efforts that reach out to every corner of the country. “Currently, my Ambassador is in Lira, which is proof of our struggle to reach out to every corner of Uganda.”
Delivering a highly abridged version of his keynote address owing to the activity-packed programme, Prof. Abasi Kiyimba started by sharing that in 1997, Makerere was privileged to host both H.E. Benjamin Mkapa and H.E. Ali Hassan Mwinyi as the University, Islam and MUMSA celebrated 75, 50 and 25 years of existence respectively. He added that Makerere had benefited most from the Southern route through which Islam reached Buganda Kingdom from Zanzibar, in the form of teachers, scholars and the brand of Islam practiced. The other two routes through which Islam reached Uganda and Buganda Kingdom were the Eastern route through Mombasa and Northern route through Sudan.
He added that the formation of MUMSA in 1972 was a significant development in the history of the Muslim Community, for it helped to formalize the Association’s membership and constitution as well as nurture leaders such as the founding Chairman Dr. Makumbi, now a retired Doctor in Kasese. Turning to the fundamental role played by the Sultanate of Zanzibar in donating the first University Mosque, Prof. Kiyimba said “we cherish very much our relationship with the Muslims and people of Zanzibar.”
The Chairperson MUMSTAF Dr. Aisha Nakiwala in her welcome remarks thanked the University Management for various infrastructure projects that have benefited the Muslim community, and support extended to Students’ activities. She thanked the Chief Guest for gracing the event and requested him communicate to H.E. Suluhu Hassan that her invitation to visit Makerere University and address the community still stands and remains highly anticipated particularly by the female Muslim Staff and Students.
The celebrations notwithstanding, when the call for prayer was made, the Chief Guest, visiting delegation and Muslim faithful put the day’s proceedings on hold and made their way to the University Mosque. The proceedings, ably moderated by Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke were graced by the past leadership of MUMSA, most notably Hon. Al Hajji Latif Ssebagala – Chairman MUMSA (1992-1994), whose energetic salaams to the faithful led smiles to break across their faces.
The current Chairman MUMSA Mr. Noordin Mutebi appealed to the gathering to support the association’s outreaches to less privileged communities in Uganda, by procuring a bus to help transport participants and eliminate one of the biggest recurring expenses. Responding to all the requests put forth, Rt. Hon. Majaliwa offered to update H.E. Suluhu Hassan on the invitation to visit Makerere. He equally pledged to contribute Six (6) Million Tanzanian Shillings to help various causes of the Muslim community and work together with the leadership to address the bus issue raised by the MUMSA Chairman.
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
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 for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th 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 who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, 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 100th 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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