The management of Makerere University has unveiled plans to relocate and expand the institution’s main gate in a bid to reduce traffic congestion at the campus and around the road leading to Nakulabye and Wandegeya.
The move was revealed yesterday by the university’s deputy vice chancellor in-charge of administration and finance, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, during a meeting with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials meant to discuss loses caused to the university due to the expansion of Makerere Hill road.
“The main gate will be relocated 30 metres into the university from its current position and it will be redeveloped into a two-lane to reduce traffic congestion. The relocation is among other road projects KCCA has compensated us with, following their encroachment on our 2.46-acre piece of land in the ongoing construction of Makerere Hill Road,” Prof Nawangwe said.
In the plan, the main gate will sit between the university’s Mosque on the right and Complex hall of residence on the left. The Round-about that connects the roads to the School of Education, the Main Building and Mitchell hall of residence will be demolished to pave way for the eight-metre new gate, unlike the current main gate that is only six metres wide.
Prof Nawangwe said he was happy that KCCA is keeping the promise to compensate the university, adding that this has sealed a strong relationship between the two parties.
“We are happy the new roads in the university will improve further our global ranking,” he said.
KCCA’s Shs6.9 billion compensation in terms of road construction works within Makerere follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 21, between both parties after the former had encroached on the latter’s 2.468 acres of land during the ongoing expansion of Makerere Hill Road.
This road is among those that are being constructed by KCCA under the second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP2) aimed at enhancing the infrastructure and institutional capacity of the city.
The total compensation covers land amounting to 2.468 acres, the Administration Block at Makerere College School (Macos), relocation of the University Main gate and the Chain Link and Perimeter wall fence from Junju Road to Sir Apollo Road.
Government Chief Valuer advised that KCCA constructs selected roads within the university, including the associated drainage, street lighting and other attendant road furniture, which will improve the sanitation and the sorry state of the university drainage system.
Government also ordered KCCA to construct an administration block, secure a library and erect a perimeter wall at Macos, and also secure a library at the Makerere’s Law School.
The selected roads to be upgraded within the University are; Mary Stuart Hall Road, Pool Road, Livingstone Road, Livingstone Hall Road, Lincoln Road, Technology Road, Police Road, Religious Centres’ Roads and the Western gate Road.
The contract for these roads has been awarded to M/S Stirling Civil Engineering Limited. M/S Greystone Investments will handle the Macos projects while the relocation of the Main gate will be handled by the main contactor of the Road, M/S China Railway Seventh Group Corporation Limited.
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