Makerere University is in deep waters after it emerged that Uganda’s highest institution may never recover valuable records it lost during the fire that ravaged the Main Building last year.
In September last year, fire outbreak ravaged the main building of the Makerere University. According to Police, the fire started from the roof spreading to floors that house both records and finance departments.
The Ivory Tower Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe then made it clear that the university had its records intact.
In a tweet he shared on his account on 20th September, 2020 he assured: “The fire at the main building was a very big tragedy. However, I would like to assure all our alumni, staff, students, and the general public that ALL our records past and current; Human Resource, student, Academic and financial records are ALL safely stored in digital form.”
However, sources at the university tell Galaxy FM Zzina that the university administration is in panic after he they reportedly lost valuable records to the fire.
A source narrated the mood at the university: “It is a tough situation here at the university. People are pacing up and down as if the world is coming to an end. The fire did so much damage here.”
Sources say the mood among the top bosses including Prof, Nawangwe at the university is down. They have to find explanation to the public who they had convinced that nothing had gone wrong with the university’s records.
Attempts by Galaxy FM Zzina to reach to the Vice Chancellor for a statement on the latest reports on the records were fruitless as his known phones went unanswered for countless times.
The University Public Relations Officer Dr Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke told Galaxy FM that his term expired in July last year and that he is not in position to deliberate anything on behalf of the university.
Dr. Kiggundu in a phone conversation with our news editorand anchor, Steven Kyeyune, said: “In July, my term expired and I did not seek to extend it. I chose to remain as a teaching professor. The rightful person to speak about this is the Vice Chancellor.”
Background
The Main Building with its unique 20th century British architecture has been Makerere’s landmark over the years.
According to the British Hansard, the building was constructed with funds from the Colonial Development bourse but was greatly delayed by a scarcity of resources to purchase materials as Britain and her allies grappled with the expenses of World War II.
As a result, some of the carpentry work had to be done on-site at the Technical College. It was completed in 1941 under the leadership of Mr. George C. Turner, Principal, Makerere College (1939-46). Earlier in 1938, the Duke of Gloucester, representing His Majesty King George VI had cut the first sod for the construction of the building on 3rd November.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
