The reconstruction of the iconic Makerere University main building which was gutted by fire in 2020, will start with the razing down of the entire structure and its foundation, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe has revealed.
The reconstruction works were awarded to Excel Construction Company after it won the bid.
According to Nawangwe, Excel Construction Company quoted Shillings 20.5 Billion, which is close to their own estimate of about Shillings 21 Billion.
After over a year, the university hopes that the old building will be demolished, a new structure set up and work completed by September 8, 2022, before the centennial celebrations, reports Uganda Radio Network.
Cabinet resolved to reconstruct the building following recommendations made by a committee set up to assess the structural integrity of the structure.
Prof Nawangwe has since revealed that a new building will be in place by October this year.
He spoke MEDIASCAPE NEWS in interview about how this will be possible;-
MediaScape News: Do you really need to raze down this iconic structure that has so many historical implications?
Nawangwe: It has become necessary because the structure has developed irreparable cracks and we feel from an engineering perspective, it would be risky to repair.
MediaScape News: What about the foundation?
Nawangwe: New foundations will have to be erected to support the new reinforced concrete structure. The old foundation cannot support the new frame structure.
MediaScape News: From an engineering perspective, how possible is it that all this work will be completed in seven months?
Nawangwe: We expect that the contractor will schedule work in shifts in order to increase the speed of execution. The contractor should also schedule the supply of materials and maintain a good number of workers to ensure uninterrupted work.
MediaScape News: It is possible. Bigger buildings have been erected in a shorter time. When work, particularly concrete work is properly scheduled, even five months are enough to erect the structural frame of this building.
MediaScape News: The University is getting its post covid groove back. How have you navigated the first 40 days?
Nawangwe: We opened in a staggered manner and implemented an aggressive vaccination campaign for students and staff. That helped us to avoid congestion in the first days before we opened up fully. Even now our graduate students prefer online classes, so the campus is not congested at all.
MediaScape News: The blended learning method you have instituted is disfavouring many poor students who cannot afford laptops. What is the purpose?
Nawangwe: Blended learning is the future and the whole world is moving in that direction. If we do not adapt, we risk being left behind again. The majority of the students supported blended learning and only a few were opposing it mainly for political reasons. We put in place measures to ensure that no one is left behind, including negotiating zero rating of our online teaching platforms.
Mediascape News: Still, how do you expect a poor student struggling with tuition to afford a laptop?
Nawangwe: We are aware of this constraint. That is why in collaboration with Stanbic Bank, we have put in place a laptop hire purchase scheme, which enables a student to acquire a good laptop after paying a deposit of only 70,000 shillings paying for it over a three year period. Surely, if someone cannot manage this, there is a problem.
MediaScape News: The celebrations of the 100 years of Makerere are poised to coincide with the unveiling of the iconic building’s new look. What is the progress so far and what are your key outputs?
Nawangwe: We have just appointed a contractor for the restoration of our iconic Main Administration Building. Our intention is that the building should be practically completed by 8 October 2022, when we mark the climax of 109 years of Makerere University. The Contractor, Excel Construction Limited has commenced the work and we are confident that we will achieve our goal.
MediaScape News: Some analysts have accused you of high handed and a protege of President Museveni. That you target staff and students perceived to be anti government?
Nawangwe: The University is an academic institution governed by professional standards. It is not a political organisation. Everybody working at Makerere has to abide by international professional standards or they must leave the University. Allegations of high handedness are simply excuses by some indisciplined individuals who want to hide their indiscipline in obscurantism.