Makerere University has officially reopened the newly renovated Mary Stuart Hall, the institution’s oldest and largest female residence, in a ceremony presided over by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe hailed the event as a landmark moment, noting that the hall named after Mary Stuart, wife of Uganda’s first Anglican Archbishop has long symbolised women’s right to higher education at Makerere. Before renovation, the facility had suffered decades of neglect, with a non-functional lift for 50 years, leaking roofs, and poorly lit corridors, conditions observed by the First Lady during her 2020 inspection.
The UGX 10.5 billion refurbishment, executed in one year by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) in partnership with the Estates & Works Department and the College of Engineering, introduced a modern lift, upgraded lighting, new pantries, modern washrooms, laundry facilities, a reading room, and a senior common room. NEC also pledged to install solar lighting and landscape the grounds.
Hon. Museveni described the renovation as proof of the NRM Government’s dedication to improving learning environments in higher education. She recalled her concern during the COVID-19 lockdown tours of student halls and thanked the Ministry of Finance for prioritising funding. She urged students to preserve the facility, uphold discipline, and embrace initiatives like the Emerging Leaders Program, which promotes values under the SAFE framework—Sober, Addiction-Free, Financially Faithful, and Education-Focused.
The First Lady reaffirmed her stance against corruption, calling it an “Acquired Integrity Deficiency Syndrome,” and encouraged all to be ambassadors of integrity. She stressed that the Government is committed to action, and described Mary Stuart Hall as not just a building, but a symbol of resilience, progress, and the transformative power of education.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for directing the renovation of all student halls and confirmed that plans are underway to refurbish Complex Hall for Girls (CCE) once funding is secured. He concluded that the modernised Mary Stuart Hall now offers an environment fully conducive to academic excellence, giving residents every reason to excel in their studies.
