The Minister of Education and Sports, who also serves as the First Lady, Janet Museveni, on Wednesday officially commissioned the refurbished Lumumba Hall at Makerere University.
The hall was closed in June this year to pave the way for renovation works on its severely dilapidated sections. The project, estimated to cost UGX 9 billion and expected to take 12 months, was contracted to National Enterprise Corporation Ltd.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Museveni expressed her honor in being part of the commissioning. “I was honored to join Makerere to commission the refurbished Lumumba Hall and the Makerere Law School. These milestones demonstrate the University’s dedication to providing quality education through transformative infrastructure development,” she said.
The First Lady also laid the foundation stone for the proposed building for the School of Graduate Studies and Research donated by Mr. Hasmukh Kanji Patel (RIP), Chairman of Tororo Cement.
She praised Tororo Cement, led by Manish Varsani, for their $8 million donation towards the construction of the Graduate Studies and Research Building. The facility will house lecture halls, laboratories, innovation spaces, and a conference hall, aimed at enhancing Makerere’s academic excellence.
Mrs. Museveni highlighted that the new facility would expand postgraduate education, foster innovation, and strengthen the university’s role as a hub for research and learning.
“Such partnerships and generosity illustrate how collaboration drives development for the benefit of students, faculty, and Uganda,” Mrs. Museveni noted.
She further compared Makerere’s restoration efforts to the biblical story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, emphasizing that the university’s renewal symbolizes resilience and a commitment to excellence.
“These efforts restore dignity and prepare the university to continue serving generations as a beacon of hope and academic excellence,” she added.
Lumumba Hall is one of Makerere University’s iconic student residences, established in 1971. Named after Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo and a symbol of Pan-Africanism, the hall has long been a hub for student life and activism.
Designed to accommodate over 200 male students, the hall became known for its vibrant culture, strong brotherhood, and rich traditions. Over the decades, it has played host to numerous university events and has been home to some of the country’s prominent leaders and professionals during their time at Makerere.
Despite its rich history, years of wear and tear had left the hall in a state of disrepair, prompting the need for the recently completed renovations to restore its former glory. Today, Lumumba Hall continues to stand as a testament to Makerere’s legacy and its commitment to fostering academic excellence and community.