Shs20 Billion Needed to Restore Makerere's Main Building - Prof Nawangwe

Makerere University vice-chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe has said that at least Sh20Billion will be required if the burnt main building at Makerere is to be put back in shape.

The burnt building, according to Prof Nawangwe is valued at Shs 15.4 billion by the chief government valuer.

Its restoration, Nawangwe believes, will definitely cost more since the building will be restored with a few changes putting new technology into consideration.

While appearing on UBC's Behind the Headlines talk show on Wednesday, Prof Nawangwe said that restoring the building could cost up to Shs20 billion.

Makerere University's main building caught fire on Saturday night with most of the roof and most top floors suffering serious damage.

The cause of the fire has not been established yet although the police say several CCTV footage has been recovered to aid the investigations. 

Documents safe

Prof Nawangwe says most of the records that were destroyed by the fire are backed up and available in digital form.

Established in 1922 as a technical school offering courses in carpentry, building and mechanics, Makerere University in Uganda is the oldest higher education institution in the country. 

The building that houses most top offices at Uganda's oldest university is one of the University's main defining features.

The building with its unique 20th-century British architectural designs is one of the university's oldest structures, the signature symbol of Uganda's oldest and biggest university.

It houses several offices including the university's main hall, university printery, and vice chancellor's office.

The building holds student records, and the basement is full of archive files spanning the whole history of the institution according to historian Derek Peterson, who says he was intending to organize.