𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐞-O𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 Shs 𝟏𝟎.𝟓 𝐁𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has officially reopened the newly renovated Mary Stuart Hall at Makerere University, describing it as a testament to the NRM Government’s commitment to improving learning environments in higher institutions.

Hon. Museveni recalled touring halls of residence during the COVID-19 lockdown and being deeply concerned by their poor condition.

She said she prayed for change, believing that a conducive environment plays a critical role in shaping students’ mindsets and academic focus.

She thanked God for enabling the Government to deliver the UGX 10.5 billion renovation project, praising the Ministry of Finance for prioritising the funding and the National Enterprise Corporation for completing the works on time and to a high standard.

She noted that the project is part of a broader plan to upgrade all halls of residence at Makerere and other public universities.

The Minister urged students to be responsible stewards of the facility, maintaining discipline, good character, and focus on their studies. She cautioned against harmful habits and emphasised the importance of managing finances wisely.

She also called for the strengthening of “moral infrastructure” through initiatives such as the Emerging Leaders Program, which equips students with life skills and promotes values under the SAFE framework, Sober, Addiction-Free, Financially Faithful, and Education-Focused.

Hon. Museveni reiterated her renewed fight against corruption, describing it as a battle against the “Acquired Integrity Deficiency Syndrome” and urging all to be ambassadors of integrity.

She reaffirmed that the NRM Government is one of action, committed to delivering on its promises.

She concluded by describing the renovated Mary Stuart Hall as more than a building, a symbol of progress, resilience, and the transformative power of education and called on the university community to work together in building brighter futures for Uganda’s young people.

The University Council Chairperson, Mrs. Lorna Magara, hailed the re-opening of the refurbished Mary Stuart Hall as a milestone in the University’s commitment to quality learning infrastructure.

She said the project’s completion reflected the collective dedication to enhancing the student learning experience.

She thanked the First Lady for her visionary leadership, noting that the ceremony came as the nation marked nine years of her stewardship of the education and sports sector.

Mrs. Magara highlighted the transformation Makerere University has experienced under the First Lady’s tenure, pointing to significant achievements in human resource investment, infrastructure development, and research funding.

Staff salary allocations, she noted, had risen by 116% since FY 2016/2017, enabling salary harmonisation, promotions, and recruitment of critical personnel.

She added that the University’s development budget had grown by 132%, financing landmark projects such as the renovation of Mary Stuart and Lumumba Halls, the restoration of the Main Building, and the construction of the School of Law Building and perimeter wall. Research funding, she observed, had increased from zero to UGX 20 billion annually.

On student welfare, Mrs. Magara reported that Mary Stuart Hall now accommodates 512 female students, up from 376. Together with Complex Hall and Africa Hall, Makerere now offers 1,357 bed spaces for female students, 35% of the total on-campus capacity.

However, she cautioned that the University still accommodates only 13% of its over 30,000 students, with many relying on external housing that may not meet safety and health standards.

She appealed to the government to prioritise expansion of student accommodation, emphasising the need for safe, accessible, and conducive living spaces.

To the University’s management, she stressed that the government’s generous support must be matched by measurable contributions to the National Development Plan, the four-pillar growth strategy, and the NRM manifesto.

Mrs. Magara concluded by urging students to take pride in and care for the refurbished facility, viewing it as an investment in their future.

She praised the First Lady’s enduring contribution to education, describing it as planting seeds that will benefit generations to come.

The University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, described the official re-opening of Mary Stuart Hall as a momentous occasion, noting that it is the oldest and largest girls’ hall at the institution.

Prof. Nawangwe recalled that before renovation, the hall was in a state of disrepair, with a lift that had not worked for five decades, dark corridors, and a leaking roof.

He said these conditions were observed by the First Lady during her 2020 tour of the halls of residence.

He reported that the Shs 10.5 billion renovation, undertaken by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) in collaboration with the Estates and Works Department and consultants from the College of Engineering, was completed in exactly one year.

The works included installation of a modern lift, improved lighting, upgraded pantries, modern washrooms, laundry facilities, a reading room, and a senior common room.

He added that NEC had also offered to install a solar lighting system and landscape the grounds.

Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for issuing the directive to renovate all student halls of residence, and to the First Lady for making the renovation possible.

He also thanked the University Council, Management, the Estates and Works Department, the consultants, and NEC for their commitment to quality work without cost variations.

He revealed that the University plans to renovate Complex Hall for Girls (CCE) once funds are released by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The Vice Chancellor concluded that the modernised Mary Stuart Hall now provides an environment conducive to academic success, with no reason for residents not to excel in their studies.