Makerere University’s main building, the iconic Ivory Tower, will be officially reopened today after a four-year restoration journey. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to be the guest of honour at the reopening event.
The Main Administration Building was first completed in 1941 under the leadership of George C. Turner, Principal of Makerere College (1939-46).
The reconstruction of the Main Administration Building, which was gutted by fire in September 2020, officially kicked off in March 2022 when the site was handed over to the contractor, Messrs Excel Construction Limited.
The restoration has cost over Shs 20 billion to return the building to its former glory.
The newly reconstructed Main Building includes a fascinating basement museum, an expanded administrative wing, a dedicated service wing, and a bustling business centre.
To prevent the reoccurrence of fire in the building, modern fire detectors and automated water systems have been installed.
The restoration also includes enhanced accessibility features, such as pathways for persons with disabilities and the restoration of the elevator. Notable improvements include the installation of more durable concrete walls and the replacement of the previous plywood dividers that separated offices. Additionally, the iconic bell that rings at the top of each hour has been restored and is now operational.
Regarding whether all these offices will return to the Main Building, Ritah Namisango, the University’s Principal Communications Officer, explained that University Management has indicated that a few offices, such as the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, and University Secretary, will return to the restored Main Building.
