Makerere University

Makerere University Kampala (MUK)

Makerere University clock tower
Motto We Build for the Future
Established 1922
Type Public
Vice-Chancellor Venansius Baryamureeba
Students 40,000
Location Kampala, Uganda
Campus Urban
Website http://www.mak.ac.ug

Makerere University (MAK), Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, (the oldest is Katigondo National Major Seminary in Masaka District, which was established in 1911), was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London. It became an independent national university in 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: University of Nairobi (Kenya), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Makerere University. Today, Makerere University has 22 faculties, institutes and schools offering programmes for about 30,000 undergraduates and 3,000 postgraduates.

Makerere was home to many post-independence African leaders, including former Ugandan president Milton Obote and late Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere. Former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa and current Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki are also Makerere alumni.

In the years immediately after Uganda's independence, Makerere University was a focal point for the literary activity that was central to African nationalist culture. Some prominent writers, including Nuruddin Farah, Ali Mazrui, David Rubadiri, Okello Oculi, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, John Ruganda, Paul Theroux, V. S. Naipaul and Peter Nazareth, were at Makerere University at one point in their writing and academic careers.

In September 2011, the university announced that it would close indefinitely following a week-long strike by the lecturers who refused resume work until their demands were met.[1]

Contents

Notable former and current faculty and administrators

Notable alumni

Political figures and Government employees

Sportspeople

Writers and journalists

Others

Halls of residence

The original eight halls of residence are:

For men
  1. Livingstone Hall
  2. Lumumba Hall
  3. Mitchell Hall
  4. Nkrumah Hall
  5. Nsibirwa Hall
  6. University Hall
For women
  1. Africa Hall
  2. Mary Stuart Hall

Other halls that have been added include:

For Women
  1. Complex Hall(CCE)
For Medicine Students in their final years
  1. Galloway

Ranking

In 2010, according to University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), Makerere University is the best university in Uganda and the 736th best university in the world.[4]

Upcountry campuses

In January 2010, the university announced the opening of two new campuses, one in the city of Fort Portal, approximately 311 kilometres (193 mi), by road, west of Kampala, and another one in the city of Jinja, approximately 86 kilometres (53 mi), by road, east of Kampala. The following courses will be offered at the upcountry campuses: [5]

Eastern Campus, Jinja
Western Campus, Fort Portal

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.independent.co.ug/ugandatalks/2011/09/makerere-university-closed-over-lecturers-strike/?Itemid=410
  2. ^ http://cancer.ucsf.edu/people/ziegler_john.php
  3. ^ Kyemba, Henry. A State of Blood, p. 21
  4. ^ "URAP - University Ranking by Academic Performance". http://www.urapcenter.org/2010. 
  5. ^ Makerere Opens New Campuses

External links

Capital: Kampala
Divisions
Neighborhoods
Economy
Notable
landmarks
Education
Notable people