Makerere University, Kampala (; Mak) is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a

technical school In the United States, a technical school is a type of two-year college that covers specialized fields such as business, finance, hospitality, tourism, construction, engineering, visual arts, information technology and community work. Associa ...

in 1922. It became an independent national university in 1970. Today, Makerere University is composed of nine colleges and one school offering programmes for about 36,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates. The main administrative block was gutted by fire in September 2020 and the cause of the fire is yet to be established. '' U.S. News & World Report'' has ranked Makerere University as the eighth best university in Africa and the 569th best university worldwide. In the 2020 U.S. News & World Report ranking, Makerere is the highest-ranked university in

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

outside of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. The ''

Times Higher Education World University Rankings The ''Times Higher Education World University Rankings'' (often referred to as the THE Rankings) is an annual publication of university rankings by the ''Times Higher Education'' (THE) magazine. The publisher had collaborated with Quacquarelli ...

'' for 2016 ranked it as the fourth best university in Africa. Makerere University is the alma mater of many post-independence African leaders, including Ugandan president

Milton Obote Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence from British colonial rule in 1962. Following the nation's independence, he served as prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to ...

and Tanzanian presidents

Julius Nyerere Julius Kambarage Nyerere (; 13 April 1922 – 14 October 1999) was a Tanzanian anti-colonial activist, politician, and political theorist. He governed Tanganyika as prime minister from 1961 to 1962 and then as president from 1962 to 1964, aft ...

and

Benjamin Mkapa Benjamin William Mkapa (12 November 193824 July 2020) was the third president of Tanzania, in office from 1995 to 2005. He was Chairman of the Revolutionary State Political Party ( Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM). Early life Mkapa was born in Lupaso, ...

. The former president of the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila Kabange ( , ; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician who served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2001 and January 2019. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, Presi ...

, and former Kenyan president the late

Mwai Kibaki Emilio Stanley Mwai Kibaki (15 November 1931 – 21 April 2022) was a Kenyan politician who served as the third President of Kenya from December 2002 until April 2013 and is regarded as one of Kenya's founding fathers. He had previously ser ...

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. Many prominent writers, including

Nuruddin Farah Nuruddin Farah ( so, Nuuradiin Faarax, ar, نورالدين فارح) (born 24 November 1945) is a Somali novelist. His first novel, ''From a Crooked Rib'', was published in 1970 and has been described as "one of the cornerstones of modern East ...

Ali Mazrui Ali Al'amin Mazrui (24 February 1933 – 12 October 2014), was a Kenyan-born American academic, professor, and political writer on African and Islamic studies, and North-South relations. He was born in Mombasa, Kenya. His positions included ...

David Rubadiri James David Rubadiri lukin Hendricks (19 July 1930 – 15 September 2018) was a Malawian diplomat, academic and poet, playwright and novelist. Rubadiri is ranked as one of Africa's most widely anthologized and celebrated poets to emerge after ind ...

Okello Oculi Okello Oculi (born 1 January 1942) is a Ugandan novelist, poet, and chronicler of rural African village life. Currently, he is a private political and social consultant based in Abuja, Nigeria. Before that, he served as Professor of Social & Eco ...

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5 January 1938) is a Literature of Kenya, Kenyan author and academic who writes primarily in Gikuyu language, Gikuyu and who formerly wrote in English language, English. He has been described as having bee ...

John Ruganda John Ruganda (30 May 1941 to 8 December 2007) was Uganda's best known playwright. Beyond his work as a playwright, Ruganda was also a professor at University of North, South Africa, University of Nairobi, and Makerere University. He was born in F ...

Paul Theroux Paul Edward Theroux (born April 10, 1941) is an American novelist and travel writer who has written numerous books, including the travelogue, '' The Great Railway Bazaar'' (1975). Some of his works of fiction have been adapted as feature films. He ...

Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...

laureate

V. S. Naipaul Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (; 17 August 1932 – 11 August 2018) was a Trinidadian-born British writer of works of fiction and nonfiction in English. He is known for his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his bleaker novels of alienati ...

, and

Peter Nazareth Peter Nazareth (born 27 April 1940) is a Ugandan-born literary critic and writer of fiction and drama. Life Peter Nazareth was born in Uganda of Indian Goan ancestry, and his mother's family was earlier based in Malaya-Malaysia-Singapore. He was ...

, were at Makerere University at one point in their writing and academic careers. Because of student unrest and faculty disenchantment, the university was closed three times between 2006 and 2016. The final time was on 1 November 2016 when President

Yoweri Museveni Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician and retired senior military officer who has been the 9th and current President of Uganda since 26 January 1986. Museveni spearheaded rebellions with aid of then ...

declared it closed indefinitely. The university was reopened in January 2017.

History

Department of Chemistry, Makerere University

Founding of the technical school

The

trade school A vocational school is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary or post-secondary education designed to provide vocational education or technical skills required to complete the tasks ...

that became Makerere University began operating in 1921 with the first classes in carpentry, building construction and mechanics. In 1922 it was founded as the "Uganda Technical College" with additional courses in the arts, education, agriculture and medicine. That same year it was again renamed as Makerere College. In 1928, the vocational classes were separated from the college and renamed Kampala Technical School. In 1937 the college began offering post-secondary education certificate courses.

University

In 1943, the British Protectorate government proposed the university, which led to a controversial struggle. It was described as "a plot to steal African soil for European settlement," by the Bataka Party. In response to this campaign, there was rioting in the capital of

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...

. In 1949 Makerere College was granted university status and its name became Makerere College, University of East Africa. In the same year, the Bataka Party had been banned by the British Protectorate government, because of acts of riot and arson committed after a Bataka protest gathering.

Unrest in the 2000s

The university was closed three times between 2006 and 2016. Beginning on 1 August 2016, the non-teaching staff went on strike demanding their back pay. The strike lasted three weeks and the government agreed to pay them by the end of October; however, the government failed to do so. This was but one more broken promise in the cycle of failed promises, strikes and more promises. That strike was followed by a strike of the lecturers over unpaid incentive pay, and that strike was joined by students in solidarity. This led to President Yoweri Museveni closing the university "indefinitely". Additional protests, including from parents whose children were left hanging in mid-semester, led to Museveni appointing a special commission to try to rectify the situation but with no promises of reopening. The commission's report was due in late February 2017. On the 20th of September, 2020, the main building of Makerere University (the Ivory Tower) was severely damaged by fire, allegedly following a probe by Uganda Parliament into financial mismanagement by university authorities.

Rankings and reputation

Organization

The University Council is the supreme governing body of the university while Senate is the chief academic organ of the university.

Subcommittees of the University Council

*Appointments Board *Finance, Planning and Administration *Quality Assurance, Gender and ICT *Estates and Works *Staff Development, Welfare and Retirement Benefits *Students Affairs and Disciplinary *Honorary Awards *Audit

Academic units

Colleges

*College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences *College of Business and Management Sciences *College of Computing & Information Sciences *College of Education and External Studies *College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology *College of Health Sciences *College of Humanities and Social Sciences *College of Natural Sciences *College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal resources and BioSecurity

Schools

*School of Law *Makerere University Business School

Affiliated institutions

* Alokolum Seminary * Katigondo Seminary * Ggaba Seminary * Kinyamasika Seminary * Mbale School Clinical Officers * Mbale School Hygiene * Mulago Paramedical Schools * Kampala University

Notable former and current faculty administrators

* Barnabas Nawangwe, architect, academic and current Vice Chancellor *

John Ddumba Ssentamu John Ddumba Ssentamu (born 1953) is a Ugandan economist, academic and banker. Currently, he is a Professor, Professor of Economics and former Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor (2012-2017) at Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university, founded in ...

, economist, academic and banker, former Vice Chancellor * Venansius Baryamureeba, computer scientist, former Vice Chancellor * Hugh Dinwiddy, lecturer in literature, warden of Northcote Hall * George Kirya, microbiologist, diplomat, academic, former Vice Chancellor at Makerere and former Chairman of Uganda Health Services Commission *

Mahmood Mamdani Mahmood Mamdani, FBA (born 23 April 1946) is an Indian-born Ugandan academic, author, and political commentator. He currently serves as the Chancellor of Kampala International University, Uganda. He was the director of the Makerere Institute o ...

, political scientist and historian *

, academic, historian and political scientist *

Apolo Nsibambi Apolo Robin Nsibambi (25 October 1940 – 28 May 2019) was a Ugandan academic and politician who served as the 8th Prime Minister of Uganda from 5 April 1999 until 24 May 2011, when Amama Mbabazi succeeded him. Early life and education Apolo Ro ...

, former Prime Minister of Uganda and former

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of Makerere University *

Joe Oloka-Onyango Joe Oloka-Onyango is a Ugandan lawyer and academic. He is a Professor of Law at Makerere University School of Law where he has also formerly been Dean and Director of the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC). He is married to Prof Sylvia T ...

, former Dean of Law and human rights expert *

Okot p'Bitek Okot p'Bitek (7 June 1931 – 19 July 1982) was a Ugandan poet, who achieved wide international recognition for '' Song of Lawino'', a long poem dealing with the tribulations of a rural African wife whose husband has taken up urban life and wis ...

, poet *

John Ssebuwufu John Pancras Mukasa Lubowa Ssebuwufu, commonly known as John Ssebuwufu is a Ugandan chemist, academic and administrator. He is a former chancellor of Kyambogo University, Uganda's second-largest public university serving between 2014-2022 havin ...

, a renowned chemist, former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, current Chancellor of

Kyambogo University Kyambogo University (KYU) is a public university in Uganda. It is one of the eight public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country with the motto, "Knowledge and Skills for Service." History Kyambogo University was establishe ...

David Serwadda David M. Serwadda is a Ugandan physician, medical researcher, academic, public health specialist and medical administrator. Currently he is a Professor of Public Health at Makerere University School of Public Health, one of the schools of Makere ...

, former dean, School of Public Health *

Nelson Sewankambo Nelson Kawulukusi Sewankambo, MBChB, MMed, MSc, FRCP, LLD (Hon), sometimes spelled as Nelson Ssewankambo, is a Ugandan physician, academician, medical researcher, and medical administrator. He is a professor of medicine and former principal o ...

, principal, College of Health Sciences * Harriet Mayanja-Kizza, current dean of students, Makerere University School of Medicine *

Sylvia Tamale Sylvia Rosila Tamale is a Ugandan academic, and human rights activist in Uganda. She was the first female dean in the Law Faculty at Makerere University, Uganda. Marriage She is married to Joe Oloka-Onyango a professor of law at Makerere Univ ...

, lawyer, academic, women's rights activist *

, novelist *

Timothy Wangusa Timothy Wangusa (born 1942) is a Ugandan poet and novelist. Wangusa was chairman of Uganda Writers Association and founder president of International PEN Uganda Centre. Early life and education Wangusa is an ethnic Mumasaaba, born in Bugisu, in ...

, author, poet, one time minister of education *

David Wasawo Professor David Peter Simon Wasawo (17 May 1923 – 4 February 2014) was a Kenyan zoologist, conservationist, and university administrator. After studying at Uganda's Makerere University he earned an M.A. at the University of Oxford and a PhD at ...

, zoologist and educationist, former vice principal * William Bazeyo, former Dean of

Makerere University School of Public Health Makerere University School of Public Health (MUSPH) is one of the schools that comprise the Makerere University College of Health Sciences, a constituent college of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest and largest public university. Location M ...

(2009–2017). Deputy Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, responsible for Finance and Administration, since September 2017.

Other academics

* Rose Mbowa - Theatre academic, playwright and actress - formerly Head of Department of Music, Dance and Drama *

Hakim Sendagire Hakim Sendagire is a Ugandan physician, biochemist, academic and medical administrator. Currently he is the Dean at Habib Medical School, College of Health Sciences of the Islamic University in Uganda, a private university, one of the 41 univers ...

- Physician, biochemist and microbiologist. Current Dean of

Habib Medical School Habib Medical School (HMS) is the school of medicine of the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), one of Uganda's private universities. The school is the newest medical school in the country, having been part of IUIU since 2014. The school provide ...

Charles Olweny Professor Charles Mark Lwanga Olweny, MBChB, MMed, MD, FRACP, is a Ugandan physician, oncologist, academic and medical researcher. Currently he is a professor of medicine and Immediate past vice-chancellor at Uganda Martyrs University, based at ...

- Physician, oncologist, medical researcher. Former Vice Chancellor of

Uganda Martyrs University Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) is a private University affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church in Uganda. The University is owned by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Bishops of Uganda. It is licensed by the Uganda National Council fo ...

. Current Chancellor of Mbarara University. *

Paul D'Arbela Professor Paul George D'Arbela MBChB, FRCP, is a Ugandan physician, cardiologist, academic, and medical researcher. According to a 2008 published report, he is a professor of medicine and the dean of postgraduate studies at the Mother Kevin Post ...

- Physician, cardiologist, academic. Dean of the Mother Kevin Postgraduate Medical School,

Nsambya Nsambya is a hill in the center of Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda. The name also refers to the upscale and middle-class neighborhoods that have been developed on the hill and its slopes. Location Nsambya is located approximate ...

. * Celestino Obua - Physician, pharmacologist, academic. Current Vice Chancellor of

Mbarara University Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST), commonly known as Mbarara University, is a public university in Uganda. Mbarara University commenced student intake and instruction in 1989. It is one of the ten public universities and degree ...

. * Catherine Abbo, medical doctor and researcher *

Raphael Owor Raphael Owor, MBChB, MD, FRCPath, ScD, is a Ugandan physician, pathologist, academic and medical researcher. He is the immediate past Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, serving in that capacity from 2003 until 2007. Prior ...

, medical doctor, former Chancellor of Mbarara University, former professor of Pathology at Makerere University School of Medicine.

Notable alumni

Political figures and government employees

* Lucy Akello,

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

, who serves as the elected

member of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for the Amuru District Women's Constituency, in the 10th Parliament. * Samuel Awich (1973), justice of the

Supreme Court of Belize Supreme may refer to: Entertainment * Supreme (character), a comic book superhero * ''Supreme'' (film), a 2016 Telugu film * Supreme (producer), hip-hop record producer * "Supreme" (song), a 2000 song by Robbie Williams * The Supremes, Motown-e ...

Kizza Besigye Warren Kizza Besigye Kifefe (born 22 April 1956), known as Colonel. Dr. Kizza Besigye, is a Ugandan physician, politician, and former military officer in the Uganda People's Defence Force. He served as the president of the Forum for Democrati ...

, physician, retired colonel in the

Uganda People's Defence Force The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), previously known as the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. From 2007 to 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the UPDF had a total strength of 40,000–4 ...

. Opposition politician, former leader of the

Forum for Democratic Change The Forum for Democratic Change ( sw, Jukwaa la Mabadiliko ya Kidemokrasia; FDC), founded on 16 December 2004, is the main opposition party in Uganda. The FDC was founded as an umbrella body called Reform Agenda, mostly for disenchanted former ...

party, presidential candidate in 2001, 2006, and 2011. *

Godfrey Binaisa Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC (30 May 1920 – 5 August 2010) was a Ugandan lawyer who was Attorney General of Uganda from 1962 to 1968 and later served as the fifth president of Uganda from June 1979 to May 1980. At his death he was Uganda's onl ...

, former

president of Uganda The president of the Republic of Uganda is the head of state and the head of government of Uganda. The president leads the executive branch of the government of Uganda and is the commander-in-chief of the Uganda People's Defence Force. The in ...

Gilbert Bukenya Gilbert Balibaseka Bukenya is a Ugandan politician and physician who was the seventh vice president of Uganda from 23 May 2003 until 23 May 2011. He has represented the constituency of Busiro County North in the Ugandan Parliament since 1996. H ...

, former vice-president of Uganda *

Kanyama Chiume Kanyama Chiume (22 November 1929 – 21 November 2007), born Murray William Kanyama Chiume, was a leading nationalist in the struggle for Malawi's independence in the 1950s and 1960s. He was also one of the leaders of the Nyasaland African Congress ...

, a Malawian who worked for the independence of

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate located in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasala ...

(now

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

) * Moses Ebuk, physician, neurophyiologist, former lecturer and tutor in the department of physiology at the

Makerere University College of Health Sciences Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) is a constituent college of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university. The schools of the college offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the biomedical sciences, health science ...

, diplomat. Ambassador of Uganda to the

Russian Federation Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

. * Daphrosa Gahakwa, Rwandan education minister *

Aloisea Inyumba Aloisea Inyumba (28 December 1964 – 6 December 2012) was a Rwandan politician, who was the country's Minister for Gender and Family Promotion and as executive secretary of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. While studying socia ...

, Rwandan minister for gender and family promotion *

, Congolese politician and president of the

Allen Kagina Allen Catherine Kagina is a Ugandan administrator and corporate executive. She is the executive director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). She was appointed to that position on 27 April 2015. Before that, from 2004 until 2014, she s ...

, Public Administrator *

Filemona F. Indire Filemona F. Indire (born March 1930) is a politician from Kenya. He served as a nominated Member of the Parliament of Kenya between 1983 and 1988. He was also Kenya's ambassador to Russia (then called, the Soviet Union) in the 1960s, during Ke ...

former Kenyan ambassador, leading educator and member of parliament. * Patrick Karegeya, former Rwandan head of intelligence *

Andrew Felix Kaweesi Andrew Felix Kaweesi was the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Uganda, and policeman. He was the Spokesperson of Uganda Police Force from August 2016 to 2017 when he was killed. He died in the rank of a Major General (equivalent NAT ...

, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP)

, a military officer and policeman. He was the Spokesperson of

Police Force from August 2016 to 2017. * Specioza Kazibwe, former vice-president of Uganda *

, the third president of Kenya from December 2002 until April 2013. Graduated at the top of his class (''summa cum laude'') in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. *

Samson Kisekka Samson Babi Mululu Kisekka (23 June 1912 – 25 October 1999) was a Ugandan politician who was Prime Minister of Uganda from 1986 to 1991 and the fifth Vice President of Uganda from 1991 to 1994. He also worked as a medical doctor and diplomat. ...

, former vice-president of Uganda * Benedicto Kiwanuka, first prime minister and first chief justice of Uganda *

Crispus Kiyonga Crispus Walter Kiyonga (born 1 January 1952), whose first name is sometimes spelled Chrispus, is a Ugandan physician, politician and diplomat, who serves as Uganda's Ambassador to China, based in Beijing. He previously served as the Minister of ...

, physician, minister of defense of Uganda *

Sam Kutesa Sam Kahamba Kutesa (born 1 February 1949) is a Ugandan politician, businessman and lawyer involved in several corruption cases. By the marriage of his daughter Charlotte Kutesa Muhoozi with Muhoozi he is part of the inner circle of president Mu ...

, Uganda's foreign affairs minister. president of the sixty-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly *

Henry Kyemba Henry Kisaja Magumba Kyemba (simply known as Henry Kyemba likely born 1937-1939) is a Ugandan retired political figure who held several high positions and finally became Minister of Health during Uganda's rule by Idi Amin. He served in that post ...

, minister of health under

Idi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...

Catherine Kyobutungi Catherine Kyobutungi (born 1972) is an Ugandan epidemiologist who currently serves as the Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center and a Joep Lange Chair. She was elected to the African Academy of Sciences in 2018. ...

, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center *

Yusuf Lule Yusuf Kironde Lule (10 April 1912 – 21 January 1985) was a Ugandan professor and civil servant who served as the fourth president of Uganda between 13 April and 20 June 1979. Early life Yusuf Lule was born on 10 April 1912 in Kampala."Lule, ...

, former president of Uganda *

Norbert Mao Norbert Mao is a Ugandan political activist and lawyer. He has been president of the Democratic Party since 2010, three time presidential candidate and he served as the Local Council 5 chairman for Gulu District. He is the current minister for ...

, former guild president of Makerere University and current president of Democratic Party *

Amama Mbabazi John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, SC (simply known as Amama Mbabazi, born 16 January 1949) is a Ugandan politician who served as the ninth Prime Minister of Uganda from 24 May 2011 to 19 September 2014. He played an instrumental role in Uganda's pro ...

, former secretary general of the National Resistance Movement and former prime minister of Uganda *

, former Tanzanian politician and former

president of Tanzania The President of the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) is the head of state and head of government of the United Republic of Tanzania. The President leads the executive branch of the Government of Tanzan ...

Jennifer Musisi Jennifer Semakula Musisi is a Ugandan lawyer and public administrator. She is the first ''City Leader in Residence'' at Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at the Ash Center of the Harvard Kennedy School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts ...

, Lawyer and Public Administrator *

Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi Jehoash Ssibakyalyawo Mayanja Nkangi or Joash Mayanja Nkangi (22 August 1932 – 6 March 2017) was a Ugandan lawyer, civil servant and politician. At the time of his death, he was the immediate past chairman of the Uganda Land Commission. He ...

, government minister and former

Katikkiro of Buganda Katikkiro is the official title of the prime minister of the Kingdom of Buganda, a traditional kingdom in modern-day Uganda. The current Katikkiro is Charles Peter Mayiga, of the mutima clan, who was appointed to that position by the current monar ...

(1964–1966, 1993–1994) *

, former prime minister of Uganda and former

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of Makerere University *

, Tanzanian politician and the first president of Tanzania * Anthony Ochaya, Ugandan Minister of Planning and Economic Development under the UNLF regime, World Bank official *

Oginga Odinga Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga (October 1911 – 20 January 1994) was a Luo chieftain who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President, and thereafter as opposition leader. Odinga ...

, Kenyan politician and the first vice president of Kenya *

, two-time former president of Uganda *

Ruhakana Rugunda Ruhakana Rugunda (born 7 November 1947) is a Ugandan physician and politician who had been Prime Minister of Uganda from 2014 to 2021. He held a long series of cabinet posts under President Yoweri Museveni beginning in 1986. He served as Uganda's ...

, prime minister of Uganda, physician, and former permanent representative of Uganda to the United Nations *

Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile (27 January 1949 – 23 January 2022) was a Ugandan economist and banker. He served as the governor of the Bank of Uganda, the central bank of Uganda from 2001 until his death on 23 January 2022. Life and career ...

, governor, Bank of Uganda *

Bobi Wine Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan politician, singer, and actor. He is a former Member of Parliament for Kyadondo County East constituency in Wakiso District, in Uganda's Central Region. He also lead ...

, (Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu), Ugandan politician, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, musician, freedom fighter and actor * Anita Annet Among, Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda (2021 - 2026), from 25 March 2022, after serving as the Deputy Speaker from 24 May 2021 until 25 March 2022.

Film, Television and Radio

* Cleopatra Koheirwe, Ugandan actress, singer and media personality *

Alex Muhangi Alex Emix Muhangi, commonly known as Alex Muhangi, is a Ugandan comedian, actor sound engineer, director and host of the comedy show, Comedy Store Uganda. He was listed as one of the top 10 Ugandan comedians and personalities in 2016 and 2017 by ...

, Ugandan Comedian and actor *

Mowzey Radio Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo (January 25, 1985 – February 1, 2018), also known as Mowzey Radio, sometimes referred to as Moses Radio, was a Ugandan musician. He was one of the main performers of the Ugandan music group Goodlyfe Crew together with ...

Aka Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo, Ugandan Singer, Notable, Best Song Writer of His Era and Actor R.I.P *

Housen Mushema Housen Mushema is a Ugandan runway, commercial and editorial model, actor and fashion producer known for playing the lead role of Balikoowa in Balikoowa in the City, Sokke on The Hostel, Andrew on Second Chance, Ben Ssali on Power of Legacy, ...

, Ugandan actor and model *

Rehema Nanfuka Rehema Nanfuka (born 25 May 1986) is a Ugandan film, theatre and television actress, director, and filmmaker known for her roles in Imani, Veronica's Wish, Imbabazi, The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, Queen of Katwe, Imperial Blue among other ...

, Ugandan Actress, director and producer * Crystal Newman, Ugandan media personality, MC and motivational speaker. *

Gladys Oyenbot Gladys Oyenbot is a Ugandan actress, singer and producer professionally known by her mononym Oyenbot. She is known for playing Dorotia on Mpeke Town (2018), and as Beatrice on the award winning drama series Yat Madit Yat Madit (2016). In 2020 ...

, Ugandan actress and producer * Edwin Musiime, television host * Morris Mugisha, actor, producer and director

Sportspeople

* Henry Osinde –

n born Cricketer currently

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

fast bowler. *

Moses Muhangi Moses Muhangi is a former Ugandan professional boxer, entrepreneur and the current president of the Uganda Boxing Federation. He is an appointed Committee member on the Africa Boxing Confederation. He is also an appointed member of both the Inte ...

- president of Uganda Boxing Federation

Writers and journalists

Christopher Henry Muwanga Barlow Christopher Henry Muwanga Barlow (1 May 1929 – 20 August 2006)Jane Kaberuka Jane Alison Kaberuka (born 28 August 1956, Bunyoro) is a Ugandan writer of fiction and autobiography, and also a senior civil servant. Career Kaberuka's education prepared her for science teaching, but in 1987 the course of her life changed whe ...

, novelist *

Daniel Kalinaki Daniel Kalinaki (born 1980) is a Ugandan journalist working with the ''Nation Media Group'' as General Manager in Uganda in charge of Editorial. He was previously the Managing Editor, Regional Content. He is married with three children. Backg ...

, journalist *

Micere Githae Mugo Micere Githae Mugo (born Madeleine Micere Githae in 1942) is a playwright, author, activist, instructor and poet from Kenya. She is a literary critic and professor of literature in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse Univers ...

Kenyan novelist, poet, activist * John Nagenda, writer, political commentator and adviser to the president of Uganda,

, author, critic *

Michael Nsimbi Dr. Michael Bazzebulala Nsimbi, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE (March 10, 1910 – March 5, 1994) was a Ugandan teacher, poet who was considered the Father of Baganda, Ganda literature, was a pioneer of Luganda la ...

, "Father of Ganda literature" *

Barbie Kyagulanyi Barbara Kyagulanyi (born September 7, 1984) is a Ugandan philanthropist and author. She is the wife to Ugandan pop artist and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine. She is the author of "Golden Memories of a Village Belle" publis ...

, writer and activist *

, author, poet *

Charles Onyango-Obbo Charles "Mase" Onyango-Obbo, also Charles Onyango Obbo, (born 1958) is a Ugandan author, journalist, and former Editor of '' Mail & Guardian Africa''. He is a former Managing Editor of '' The Monitor'', a daily Ugandan newspaper, former Executiv ...

, journalist and political commentator * Mark Ouma, athletics journalist and former philosophy lecturer at Makerere *

, poet, novelist, diplomat *

, Kenyan novelist * Hilda Twongyeirwe, editor, poet, shortstory writer *

, author, poet, one-time minister of education * Elvania Namukwaya Zirimu, poet and dramatist

Scientists

* Andrew Kambugu, physician, Sande-McKinnell Executive Director at the Uganda Infectious Disease Institute * Robert Kezaala, physician, Senior Health Advisor at

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...

Matthew Lukwiya Matthew Lukwiya (24 November 1957 – 5 December 2000) was a Ugandan physician and the supervisor of St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, outside of Gulu. He was at the forefront of the 2000 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Uganda until he died from th ...

, physician in Gulu during the 2000

Ebola Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), is a viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates, caused by ebolaviruses. Symptoms typically start anywhere between two days and three weeks after becom ...

outbreak *

Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu (born 1974) is a professor, researcher, epidemiologist and psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University in Uganda. Her research is particularly focused on supportive gro ...

, psychiatrist and epidemiologist * Christine Obbo, socio-cultural anthropologist

Others

Iddah Asin Iddah Asin is a lawyer and corporate executive in Kenya. She is the Director of Government Affairs and Policy, for the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson in the countries of the African Great Lakes. In 2017 she was named among the "Top 4 ...

, lawyer and

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...

executive * Maria Auma, climate activist * Nkulanga Enock, children's rights activist *

Busingye Kabumba Busingye Kabumba (born 12 June 1982) is a Ugandan lawyer and poet. He is a Lecturer-in-Law, Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), at the Faculty of Law, Makerere University and a Consulting Partner with M/S Development Law Associates.

, poet, lawyer and lecturer at law. *

Anne Kansiime Kansiime Kubiryaba Anne (born 13 April 1986) and popularly known as Anne Kansiime, is a Ugandan entertainer, comedian, and actress. She has been referred to as "Africa's Queen of Comedy" by some African media outlets. Background and education ...

, comedian *

Laeticia Kikonyogo Laetitia Eulalia Mary Mukasa Kikonyogo (2 September 1940 – 23 November 2017), was a Ugandan lawyer and judge. Prior to her retirement from the bench, she was a member of the Court of Appeal of Uganda, which also doubles as Uganda's Constitutio ...

, lawyer and judge * Patrick Mazimhaka, deputy chairperson of the

African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...

African Commission The Commission of the African Union acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the African Union (and is somewhat analogous to the European Commission). It consists of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas o ...

* Andrew Mwenda, the

managing director A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of the "Independent" Newspaper in Uganda * Lilian Mary Nabulime, sculptor *

Harry Nkumbula Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula (15 January 1916 – 8 October 1983)Zambia Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...

's struggle for independence *

Olara Otunnu Olara A. Otunnu (born 6 September 1950) is a Ugandan politician, diplomat, and lawyer. He was President of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC), a political party, from 2010 to 2015 and stood as the party's candidate in the 2011 presidential elect ...

, former United Nations under-secretary general and special representative for children and armed conflict * John Sentamu, Anglican Archbishop of York, England, the first black Archbishop of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

Martin Ssempa Martin Ssempa (born 1968) is a Ugandan pastor, activist, and the founder of the Makerere Community Church. He referred to himself as Pastor Doctor Martin Ssempa, but now calls himself Gabriel Baaba Gwanga'mujje Eri Yesu. Ssempa first came to ...

, controversial Ugandan pastor and AIDS activist

Halls of residence

As of September 2015, the halls of residence at Makerere University included the following:

For men

The_Gongom_monument_at_Lumumba_hall_at_Makerere_University_Kampala

* Livingstone Hall * Lumumba Hall * Mitchell Hall * Nkrumah Hall * Nsibirwa Hall * University Hall

For women

* Africa Hall * Mary Stuart Hall * Complex Hall

For students of medicine in their final years

* Galloway House

Postgraduate Hall

* Dag Hammarskjöld Hostel

Upcountry campuses

In January 2010, the university announced the opening of two new campuses, one in the city of

Fort Portal Fort Portal or Kabarole is a city located in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the seat of both Kabarole District and historically of the Toro Kingdom. Location Fort Portal in Kabarole District is located approximately by road, west of Kampal ...

, approximately , by road, west of

, and another one in the city of Jinja, approximately , by road, east of Kampala. The following courses will be offered at the upcountry campuses:

Eastern Campus, Jinja

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...

Bachelor of Information Technology A Bachelor of Information Technology (abbreviations BIT or BInfTech) is an undergraduate academic degree that generally requires three to five years of study. While the degree has a major focus on computers and technology, it differs from a Compu ...

* Bachelor of Development Studies * Bachelor of Tourism

Replacement of main building

In September 2020 a fire gutted the Main Building of Makerere University, normally called the Main Building, destroying university records and the building structure. A subsequent investigation by an eleven-person team could not establish a definite cause of the fire but pointed to an electric fault as a likely cause. In August 2021, the

Cabinet of Uganda There are 32 Cabinet ministers and 50 Ministers of State in the Cabinet of Uganda (2021 to 2026). According to Section 111 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda, as amended in 2005, "There shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, t ...

resolved to break down what remained of the Main Building after the fire. A new building, which will be designed to look like the original structure, will be erected at the same location, at a budgeted cost of UGX:21 billion (approx. US$6 million). The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to ''Excel Construction Company Limited''. a Ugandan company and a subsidiary of the

Madhvani Group The Madhvani Group of Companies commonly referred to as the Madhvani Group, is one of the largest conglomerates in Uganda. The group has investments in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Middle East, India, and North America. His ...

. The reconstruction process began in April 2022, starting with tearing down the structurally unsound original building, built in the 1930s and commissioned in 1941.

References

External links

*
Makerere University news
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