The Makerere University Convocation has started to walk the talk it suggested last year when the President closed the University after a series of strikes spread to neighboring business suburbs of Kikoni and Wandegeya with students looting and destroying property.
Spear headed by Dr.Tanga Odoi, the chairman Makerere University Convocation; he expects this 5 billion shillings project to run for approximately one year. Makerere University convocation is an umbrella unit for all old students (alumni) and every student contributes shs10.000 towards it on graduation. These collections cater for security and other utilities during graduation ceremonies.
The Fund through these yearly collections has so far contributed shs35m to the perimeter wall project. The parents on the previous graduation also welcomed the idea contributing shs12m. Convocation then planned to organize a Charity Run to raise more funds when some administrators hijacked the development twisting it to suit the Endowment Fund’s Students’ center project but Convocation didn’t give up.
Together with shs50m from well wishers, the Project kicked off this month with Manufacturing on site Building Blocks by a contractor who charges shs600 per block, which is cheaper, if they were to buy already manufactured ones.
Dr Tanga took our Reporter through the different types of solid blocks explaining how they will interchangeably be used on different locations to ensure a strong and water resistant wall immune to collapsing. He also took us on a tour around the few meters this magnificent wall covers.The wall is currently stretching its wings from University hall and while in its primary stage, it has managed to save the university land from being used as a dumping side by bordering neighbors from Wandegeya Market.
When asked about why he decided to commence the project without enough sustainable funds as per the budget, Dr Tanga had this to say; “We are using the little we have to show that we can. When people realize this dream can be achieved, they’ll start contributing generously. We shall present this introductory development to the President and ask him to fulfill his shs1bn pledge.”
From this week, Dr Tanga will be conducting door-to-door fundraising sessions amongst university staff members beginning with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences where he formerly was a lecturer. He spends half of his day at the university supervising the project.
“What sense will it make to have a magnificent gate with an ugly surrounding?” asked Tanga before adding;
“This wall is aimed at saving the University land from encroachers, safe guard university and student property and protect the premises from thugs from surrounding suburbs through securing official entrance and exit points.”
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