Ranked among the best universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Makerere University remains the pillar of Uganda’s academic prowess. Joining the biggest public university still remains a dream come true for most senior six leavers. Arthur Baguma writes. Arthur Baguma
Background
Fondly referred to as the only hill by the alumni, senior six leavers view studying at Makerere University as a ticket to an end of academic woes. But as some people have come to learn, it is far from that. Succeeding in this university calls for self-discipline, hard work and focus.
The university was established in 1922 as a technical school and pioneered with 14 students studying carpentry, building and mechanics. It expanded over the years to become a Center for Higher Education in East Africa in 1935. In 1937, the College developed into an institution of higher education, offering post-school certificate courses.
In 1949, it became a University College affiliated to the University College of London. In 1963, it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees of the University of London. Seven years later, it transformed into an autonomous university.
It is located on Makerere hill, about 5km north of Kampala city center. It covers an area of 300 acres..
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Legal status
On July 1, 1970, Makerere became an independent national university of the Republic of Uganda, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses leading to its own awards. The university is Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning.
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Student Population
Over 30,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates.
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Accommodation Facilities
There are five halls of residence for male students, three for females and one unisex for postgraduate students. The university is currently working to reduce on congestion in the halls of residence by having at least two to three students per room.
Several hostels have sprung up but some are not appropriate. The Dean of Students’ office registers and monitors specific hostels, which are up to standard.
Students are strongly advised to reside in hostels registered with the university.
-Parklane Hostel
-Allen Boys’ Hostel
-Romaro Girls’ Hostel
-J&L Hostel
-Stalex Girls’ Hostel
-MISH Hostel
-Tresie Hostel
-Patra Girls’ Hostel
-Makivu Girls’ Hostel
-Desire Girls’ Hostel
-St. Monica Boys’ Hostel
-West land Girls’ Hostel
-Makerere Advanced Girls’ Hostel
-Karen Mixed Hostel
-Merryland Hostel
-Tricam Courts
-Carlifornia Girls’ Hostel
-Zion Girls Hostel
-Fortunate Girls Hostel
-Steve Hostel
-Bestie Hostel
-Lady Juliana Girls’ Hostel
-Kyoga Boys’ Hostel
-Elshadayi Hostel
-Paradise Hostel
-Cecilia Girls’ Hostel
-Waveney Courts Makerere Hostel
-Namubiru Boys’ Hostel
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Sports/ recreational facilities
A swimming pool, two football pitches, tennis court and basketball court. Some halls of residence have own sports facilities.
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Current enrollment
Over 30,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates. Top Infrastructure
Infrastructure: Makerere University comprises 32 academic and administrative units, housed in 80 buildings covering an area of 300 acres. There are also 10 halls of residence on the main campus, and four student’s hostels in the remote campuses.
It has a hospital with 22 beds for in-patients, a printery, a bookshop and a guesthouse. It also has staff quarters, a mosque and two chapels.
The university data backbone network has undergone tremendous transformation over the last three years. It is currently reaching over 80% of the university buildings. This is contributing greatly to the university policy target of one computer for every five undergraduate students, and one computer for each postgraduate student or member of staff.
The Internet kiosks have been set-up to provide students and staff with quick and widely accessible electronic data-communication facilities, in particular E-Mail and Access-to-Internet, independent of their faculty or administrative units.
Datanetwork Infrastructure
The university data backbone network has undergone tremendous transformation over the last three years. It is currently reaching over 80% of the university buildings. This is contributing greatly to the university policy target of one computer for every five undergraduate students, and one computer for each postgraduate student or member of staff.
The Internet kiosks have been set-up to provide students and staff with quick and widely accessible electronic data-communication facilities, in particular E-Mail and Access-to-Internet, independent of their faculty or administrative units.
Location of Internet kiosks
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Fees Structure
Plan to increase fees was put on hold but the functional fees were increased with effect from the academic year 2005/2006.
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International affiliation/twinning arrangements
Makerere has linkages and collaboration with many institutions of higher learning nationally, regionally, and internationally.
University of Florida
Johns Hopkins University.
Witwatersrand University.
Pretoria University.
Dar-e salaam University.
Bergen University, Norway.
Lund University, Sweden.
Sussex University, UK
Columbia University.
Uppsala University, Sweden
Tufps University, Netherlands.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Amsterdam University
Oslo University, Norway.
Nkozi University
Mbarara University
Gulu University
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Library facilities
Library facilities: Makerere has one Main Library and seven specialised branch libraries.
The library collection consists of 384,800 monographs with an annual addition of about 2,250 books (excluding donations and exchange), 82,000 bound serials with an annual subscription of 330 serial titles.
A book-bank system with a collection of basic textbooks kept in departmental libraries currently approximated at 182,000 books.
A special collection of information resources — the university archives, Africana materials, manuscripts and photographic materials (all located in Africana section); and the history of medicine in Uganda (located in Albert Cook Branch Library).
The library collections are accessible through the online catalogue (OPAC). It also provides web-based access to a broad variety of electronic databases, viewed as abstracts and full text.
Linkages — The library has partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries (UT Libraries) and the University of Bergen Library (UoB Library). It also has linkages with Case Western Reserve University, (USA), the Dreyfus Health Foundation, (USA); and the South Thames Library and Information Service, (UK).
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Lecturer/student ratio –– 1:21
One lecturer to 15 students. It varies from faculty to faculty. Lectures in some faculties are conducted on a public address system to facilitate handling of large numbers. Scramble for seats is common among students. Because of limited facilities, it is common for students to do revision under trees especially during exam periods.
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Faculties
The university has 22 faculties/institutes/schools offering day, evening and external study programmes.
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Strategic plan
The university is currently developing a five-year Strategic Plan for the year 2006/7 – 2011/12. In its Strategic Plan 2000/1-2004/5 and in a number of other important documents, the university earmarked the following main strategic aspects.
Five ICT priority areas for development have been identified, as follows:
— Setting up university wide Internet and e-mail facilities for all academic and administrative units.
— Implementing a computerised academic records information system.
— Implementing a computerised library information system.
— Implementing a computerised financial information system.
— Implementing specific ICT-based applications for education and research.
Increasing physical and teaching capacity.
University training capacity involves many factors, including quality aspects such as performance of lecturers and quality of programmes. The main capacity indicators that can be quantified.
Top Councils/ administration
Chancellor — Prime Minister Prof Apolo Nsibambi
Vice Chancellor — Prof Livingstone Luboobi
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) – Dr. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance & Administration) – Prof. David J. Bakibinga
Academic Registrar — Amos Olal-Odur
Ownership
Government of Uganda.
Contact
Address
P.O.BOX 7062
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: (256-41) 532631-4/540436
http://www.makerere.ac.ug
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