Museveni okays independent road unit for Makerere University

Oct 02, 2024

The unit is aimed at helping Uganda's oldest university to build capacity for a robust road construction department.

President Yoweri Museveni speaking during the installation of new chancellor of Makerere University, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, at the university's main campus on October 2, 2024. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

John Masaba
Journalist @New Vision

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President Yoweri Museveni has okayed a request by Makerere University to have an independent road unit.

The unit is aimed at helping Uganda's oldest university to build capacity for a robust road construction department, which can be used to refurbish its own roads and also help in training its engineering students.

The President approved of the request during the reopening of the reconstructed Ivory Tower building at Makerere University’s main campus in Kampala on Wednesday.

President Yoweri Museveni, accompanied by First Lady and education minister, Janet Museveni, reopened the reconstructed Makerere University main building in Kampala on October 2, 2024. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

President Yoweri Museveni, accompanied by First Lady and education minister, Janet Museveni, reopened the reconstructed Makerere University main building in Kampala on October 2, 2024. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)


The facility was gutted by fire in September 2010 and had since been closed off for restoration works.

The same day, Dr Crispus Kiyonga was also installed as the new university chancellor, replacing Dr Ezra Suruma as the institution's titular head.

President Museveni was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.

Also present was Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, as well as ministers, legislators, academicians, and others.

President Museveni handing over a symbolic key to the new Makerere University chancellor, Dr Crispus Kiyonga. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

President Museveni handing over a symbolic key to the new Makerere University chancellor, Dr Crispus Kiyonga. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)



'Very good idea'

The Ivory Tower, the university’s main administrative building, caught fire on the night of September 20, 2020. 

The restored facility now has a basement museum, an expanded administrative wing, a dedicated service wing and a bustling business centre.

“Regarding the road unit, that is a very good idea," said Museveni, responding to a request by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.

"I will definitely support that so you can have your own road unit; you can teach your engineers how to build roads and buildings practically. I totally agree with that."

The restored Ivory Tower, Makerere University's main building, is now open. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)

The restored Ivory Tower, Makerere University's main building, is now open. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)


In his request, Nawangwe noted that they wish the government to consider it as a district so it can benefit from allocation of road maintenance units as part of the government’s districts’ road maintenance programme. 

All beneficiary districts receive a complete set of road units comprising a motor grader, one vibro roller, one-wheel loader, one water bowser and two dump trucks. 

In addition, they receive an allocation of sh1 billon per quarter for maintenance of the equipment and facilitation of the works.   

“With this unit, we will be able to train our students by maintaining the university’s roads and he roads of the surrounding communities," said the VC.

He said the ultimate aim is to produce engineers who will build strong contracting firms for the country. 

Nawangwe prayed that this proposal be given consideration in the next financial year budget [2025-2026], to which the President agreed.

Noting that the training of engineers is crucial to national development, the VC said they have made efforts to empower their engineering students and that many infrastructural projects are now supervised by their own architects and engineers.

He noted, however, that these could benefit further from “advanced technical and business development skills so they can compete with international firms”. 

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