Makerere University

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.