_{By Bernard Buteera}

On Monday afternoon the 13^th of March 2023, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, commissioned the state-of-the-art fire detection and protection system for Senate Building, one of the buildings that houses the academic documents and records for the University.

In a speech read for him by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof. Umar Kakumba, the Vice Chancellor thanked all the key partners; Mastercard Foundation and the Government Uganda, through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF), for funding the project to completion.

The Vice Chancellor pointed out that, learning from the horrific incident when the Main Building was gutted by fire in September 2020, the University could not risk having another sensitive building like Senate not to have fire detection and protection system.

“I would like to thank the Government of Uganda, through Mak-RIF and our partner Mastercard Foundation, for funding such an important project in the University. This fire detection and protection system is very essential for our institution in order to protect the lives of our stakeholders and our academic records.” Prof. Nawangwe noted. 

Prof. Nawangwe further thanked Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi and the entire committee that steered the project right from phase 1 to completion.

“I would like to thank Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, the PI and her team for the thoughtfulness and for the passion that came through during the proposal writing. The University Management can have strong proposals, but it doesn’t have a strong team to support in implementation, then all the good proposals would go to waste.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.

On his part, Prof. Kakumba, thanked the University Management for supporting the first phase of the project through Mak-RIF.

“I would like to appreciate my Colleagues in Management for delivering the first phase of the proposal for digitization of our records under Mak-RIF. Digitization of our academic records is very critical to the institution.” Prof. Kakumba noted.

Prof. Kakumba also thanked Mastercard Foundation for the recovery support, which supported in the second phase of the project, which was the installation of fire detection and protection system.

“When our building got burnt, the first partner to extend a hand of support was the Mastercard Foundation, for which we are very grateful. Mastercard Foundation has supported Makerere University in many other projects, and we thank them very much.” He remarked.

Prof. Kakumba called upon the Estates Department and all other stakeholders, to ensure that the fire detection system is well maintained and serviced for effective and efficient use of the system.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, thanked the University Management, the Government of Uganda, the Academic Registrar’s Department, and the Mastercard Foundation for making the project possible.

“We all know what happened when the main building got burnt, it was a reflection that we could have done better. I hope that the people who have installed the equipment will give us manuals and offer training to staff on safe evacuation in case of any fire alerts with a fire exit plan in every room.” Prof. Alinaitwe remarked.

“I would like to join my colleagues to thank Mastercard Foundation for funding this project and many others in the University. Mastercard Foundation is here to catalyze us, we should look at this project as an example, so that we replicate it in other buildings across the university with our own resources.” Prof. Alinaitwe remarked.

Prof. Alinaitwe acknowledged the need for the University Management to enhance the issue of access control beyond the archives rooms in the Senate Building to other facilities at the University.

“We need to install CCTV cameras across all the facilities in the university, and be able to use them all the time.” Prof. Alinaitwe noted.

The Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi thanked members of the University Administration for always gracing events that celebrate achievements, such as the completion of the Fire detection and protection system.

“It feels good when you’re part of a progressive agenda. I wasn’t really in stewardship when the project started, but I have heard good things about it. I would also wish to convey our regards to Mastercard Foundation for enabling us to progress towards the achievement of our vision and dreams.” Prof. Buyinza remarked.

Prof. Buyinza further thanked the Digitizing Academic Records and Processes (DARP) Committee led by Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi for the job well done.

“I sincerely thank my colleague, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi and her team, for having a heart for the institution, serving beyond self, and the visionary leadership you’ve offered to your team.” Prof. Buyinza pointed out.

On her part, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, thanked the University Management, Mak-RIF and Mastercard Foundation for the tremendous support rendered to the project.

“It gives me great pleasure that we are commissioning the Fire Protection and Detection System for Senate Building, including the banks housed in this building. This is a dream come true!” Mrs. Mushengyezi remarked.

Mrs. Mushengyezi informed the gathering that the project was mainly funded by Mak-RIF under the Government of Uganda for the first phase, which was mainly digitizing the academic records, and Mastercard Foundation which supported the second phase of the project, which was the fire detection and protection system.

“This project was a multiphase process; the first phase was to prepare for system and digitization of our records, and the second phase was mainly the installation of fire detection and protection system. We are very grateful to Mak-RIF and Mastercard Foundation for funding the project to completion” Mrs. Mushengyezi informed the gathering.

The DARP project was implemented in collaboration with East African School of Library and Information Sciences (EASLIS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) and the College of Education and External Studies (CEES).

Bernard Buteera, is the Communications & Web Officer of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.