Makerere University

Makerere is a very old school.

It started a long time ago in Uganda. It began as a small trade school.

Then it grew into a big college. Later, it became a large university.

It is the oldest school in its area.

Many leaders studied there. Some became presidents of their lands. This school helps many people learn.

Sometimes the school had hard times. It had to close for a while. But the school opened again.

Today, many students go there to learn. It is a very important place.

Makerere University is in Uganda. It is the oldest and largest university in the country.

It first began as a trade school in 1921. Students learned jobs like building and mechanics. In 1922, it became the Uganda Technical College. Later, it was called Makerere College.

By 1949, it became a university.

Many important people studied here. Some became leaders of countries like Tanzania and Kenya. Many famous writers also went to the school.

The school has faced hard times. Between 2006 and 2016, it closed three times. This happened because of strikes. Staff and teachers wanted better pay. The school reopened in early 2017. In 2020, a fire damaged the main building. Workers have since rebuilt it.

Today, Makerere is very big. It has nine colleges. It has one school. About 36,000 students study there. They learn many things like science, art, and medicine.

In 2022, the school celebrated 100 years of learning.

Makerere University is a very important place for learning. It is the largest and oldest university in Uganda.

Today, it has many different areas for study. There are nine colleges and one special school. These colleges teach many subjects like science, art, and medicine.

The university helps about 36,000 undergraduate students. It also has 4,000 postgraduate students. This makes it a huge community of learners.

Learning at Makerere happens in many different ways. Students can study at the main campus or in Jinja City. The university is organized into many specific groups. For example, the College of Natural Sciences is called CONAS. There is also a College of Health Sciences and a College of Engineering.

Some students study at the Makerere University Business School. This structure helps everyone focus on their specific goals.

The school has a very long and interesting history. It started in 1921 as a small trade school.

The first classes were for building, carpentry, and mechanics. In 1922, it became the Uganda Technical College. Later that same year, it was renamed Makerere College. In 1949, it finally gained university status. It was known as Makerere College, University of East Africa. In 2022, the school celebrated being 100 years old.

Many famous and powerful people have been part of Makerere. Many leaders of African nations studied here.

Julius Nyerere was the first president of Tanzania. Mwai Kibaki was a president of Kenya. The university was also a home for many great writers. People like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o and V. S. Naipaul studied there. These people helped shape the culture of the continent.

Sometimes, the university has faced very hard times. Between 2006 and 2016, the school closed three times.

This happened because staff and teachers went on strike. They were asking for their pay. In September 2020, a big fire hurt the main building. This building is often called the Ivory Tower. Luckily, the university worked hard to rebuild it. It continues to be a strong place for students.

Makerere University is the largest and oldest institution of higher learning in Uganda.

It is also the oldest university currently active in East Africa. The university serves as a major center for academic research and professional training. Today, it supports a massive community of learners. This includes approximately 36,000 undergraduate students and 4,000 postgraduate students. The institution functions as a vital hub for education and leadership in the region.

The university is organized into several specialized academic units. It currently consists of nine colleges and one school. These units allow students to focus on specific fields of study. For example, the College of Natural Sciences is known as CONAS. The College of Health Sciences is called CHS. Other units include the College of Engineering, Art & Design, known as CEDAT. There is also the College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, or CAES. Other colleges include CoBAMS, CHUSS, COCIS, COVAB, and CEES. Additionally, the Makerere University Business School, or MUBS, is part of the system.

Governance at Makerere is handled through two main bodies. The University Council acts as the supreme governing body. This council manages the institution through various subcommittees. These subcommittees handle specific tasks like finance, planning, and administration. They also oversee quality assurance, gender, and ICT. Other groups manage estates, works, and staff welfare. The Senate serves as the chief academic organ. This means the Senate focuses on the actual teaching and learning processes.

The history of Makerere began as a small trade school in 1921. The first classes focused on carpentry, mechanics, and building construction. In 1922, it was founded as the Uganda Technical College. That same year, it was renamed Makerere College. In 1928, the vocational classes were separated to become the Kampala Technical School. The college began offering post-secondary certificate courses in 1937. In 1943, the British Protectorate government proposed turning it into a university. This proposal led to a controversial struggle involving the Bataka Party. In 1949, the school was granted university status. It was then known as Makerere College, University of East Africa.

Makerere has produced many influential leaders and thinkers. It is the alma mater for many post-independence African leaders. For instance, Julius Nyerere was the first president of Tanzania. Mwai Kibaki served as the third president of Kenya. Ugandan president Milton Obote and Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa also studied here. The university also shaped African nationalist culture through literary activity. Many famous writers were part of the university community. These include Nobel Prize laureate V. S. Naipaul and novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.

The university has also contributed significantly to scientific research. It played a crucial role in the development of primatology. This is the study of primates. Researchers like Alexander John Haddow and Thelma Rowell conducted field studies through the university. Makerere also helped bridge medical tropical research. This research focused on human diseases like Yellow Fever.

Despite its successes, the university has faced serious challenges. Between 2006 and 2016, the university closed three times. These closures happened because of student unrest and faculty disenchantment. Specifically, staff went on strike regarding unpaid wages and incentives. This led President Yoweri Museveni to close the school indefinitely at one point. In September 2020, the main administrative building was damaged by a fire. This building is often called the Ivory Tower. However, the university has persevered through these difficulties. In 2022, the institution celebrated its centenary, marking 100 years of existence.