Uganda’s most famous women’s dormitory is back — and looking better than ever.
Mary Stuart Hall, the once-crumbling residence at Makerere University, has reopened its doors after a jaw-dropping £2m (UGX 10.5 billion) facelift.
The First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni, personally cut the ribbon at Friday’s grand ceremony — and couldn’t resist telling the crowd the project was “an answer to prayer.”
For years, the 1947-built hall had been falling apart. Toilets broken, roofs leaking, corridors dark and grim. And, most embarrassingly of all, the lift hadn’t worked for nearly 50 years.
But no more. The year-long overhaul, carried out by the National Enterprise Corporation, has transformed the 521-bed residence into a modern sanctuary — complete with gleaming washrooms, a new elevator, reading rooms and even laundry facilities.
Students have dubbed it “the rebirth of the hall.”
“Mary Stuart Hall has always been more than a residence — it’s a sanctuary of sisterhood and leadership,” said Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, beaming with pride.
The First Lady, flanked by senior officials, recalled her dismay during a 2020 tour of the university’s halls. “I was distressed by the conditions,” she admitted, before declaring the new look a sign of both God’s faithfulness and the government’s commitment to education.
Council Chair Lorna Magara hailed her nine years of “transformative leadership,” pointing out that Makerere’s staff budget has more than doubled in under a decade, while infrastructure spending has soared.
Students were quick to celebrate too.
Fourth-year medic Anthea Ampaire, Chairlady of the hall, described the reopening as “a rebirth” and praised its disability-friendly features. Guild President Ssentamu Churchill James called it “a restoration of hope and pride” for the whole university.
The event was marked with prayers, speeches and a jubilant atmosphere — as one of East Africa’s most historic women’s residences finally stepped into the 21st century.
Mary Stuart Hall, once a symbol of neglect, now gleams as a monument to resilience, renewal and female empowerment.
