Makerere Diverts Donations Meant for Restoration of Iconic Ivory Tower

Makerere University management will divert the would-be donations for the restoration of the iconic ivory tower to renovations ahead of centennial celebrations. Established in 1922, Makerere University will celebrate 100 years of existence in 2022 as the oldest institution of higher learning in Uganda.  

In October last year, Makerere University launched platforms to enable willing individuals and organizations to offer monetary contributions for the restoration of the iconic main building. The structure commonly referred to as Ivory Tower was gutted by fire in September.

Following the inferno, students, alumni and well-wishers called for the expeditious restoration of the building ahead of the centenary celebrations. However last week, the cabinet resolved to demolish the structure and allocated Shillings 21 billion for the reconstruction of the building.  

However, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice-Chancellor Makerere University, says part of the money from the donations would be used to replace utilities in the main building gutted by fire like computers and renovation of dilapidated structures like halls of residence.

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He said that other than renovations, there is need for more money towards equipping the reconstructed main building, which they intend to raise from donations. Nawangwe notes that apart from the Shillings 3.7 billion donated by Master Card Foundation to help them recover from the losses resulting from the fire, well-wishers donated more than Shillings 10M.           

During the launch of the campaign, the university sought to reach an estimated 300,000 alumni spread across the world, current students, parents and former parents, friends of Makerere, organizations and other people attached to the university.   

The university obtained a merchant code (542803) and also opened two accounts in Stanbic Bank; 9030017778608 for contributions in US Dollars and 9030017778535 for contributions in Uganda Shillings for streamlined accountability.

Nawangwe explains that most of the money that was promised by well-wishers last year remains in pledges as those willing to support await a fundraiser campaign as was the initial plan. The university is in preparations to hold the campaign in early October this year to reach its target of 300,000 people.

In the meantime, Nawangwe, who is relieved that the government is footing costs for reconstruction, says that the university will start the reconstruction process by sourcing a contractor hopefully within two months as they wait for the Finance Ministry to avail the Shillings 21 billion. 

The construction of the main building, which began in 1938, was financed by several sources including regional governments, the Uganda protectorate government and several individuals.