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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The second phase of the construction of the Makerere University perimeter wall is progressing well despite limited funding.
The Makerere University Convocation Chairperson, Dr Frederick Odoi Tanga, which is spearheading the construction work, disclosed this in an interview with URN about the progress of the work.
Estimated to cost a billion Shillings, the Perimeter Wall Construction project was launched in February 2017 by the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda during the 67th Graduation Ceremony.
Dr Odoi says they want to close off up to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security along Muganzi road before the next graduation due early next year.
Dr Odoi says they are creating a database for all alumni who will be asked to contribute at least Shillings 1,000 each towards the construction works.
According to Tanga, while the president promised them Shillings 500 million towards the construction of the wall early this year, the money hasn’t come. He says the university management has promised to follow it up.
“Our target is money that can finish the whole wall which can come to at worst 1 billion Shillings. We are not even half the cost. If you went through the other people who use procurement systems, this wall would have cost us over 4 billion Shillings.
Because procurement people would cost a block at 15,000 Shillings but for us, it costs 3,000 Shillings because we make them ourselves on-site. That is what has made the costs low,” Dr Odoi revealed.
Makerere University main campus sits on over 6 km of land most of which isn’t fenced. The unregulated entry and exit of students and residents from the university has in the past led to thefts and attacks. Dr Tanga says thugs take advantage of porous borders to harm students.
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