The vice chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe says that it is true it is a dark moment to Makerere as it’s the first disaster they have had in the almost 100 years of existence noting that the institution is to celebrate 100 years in less than a year.
“It’s very true that it is a dark moment to Makerere University and the fire was disastrous but it’s not the end of Makerere, the ivory tower is still going to be existent.” Nawangwe said.
He makes this remark as a reassurance that although the building which housed many offices has got burnt, all the information that was being kept in those offices is still intact as they have it digitalized, a statement that brings relief to many.
Nawangwe affirms that they are very determined to re- construct the iconic building the exact way it has been because it’s symbolic and they wouldn’t want to lose the uniqueness of the institution and that they wouldn’t want to celebrate 100 years with a demolished building in the institution’s premises so they will work hard to re- construct it.
According to Nawangwe, the departments of Human Resource, Public relations, Finance are the ones that have greatly been affected.
The cause of the fire is still unknown according to him but he alleges that it may be an electric problem since it started from the roof and it spread so fast because the ceiling is wooden.
