KAMPALA – Makerere University has officially handed over the historic CCE-Complex Hall of Residence to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) for a comprehensive renovation aimed at restoring one of the institution’s oldest female halls of residence.
The handover ceremony, held on Friday at the university’s main campus, was presided over by Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and NEC Managing Director Lt Gen James Mugira. The renovation project is expected to be completed within 12 months.
Constructed in the 1950s, CCE-Complex Hall has served generations of female students but has suffered significant structural deterioration over the years, prompting the need for extensive rehabilitation and modernisation.
Strategically located adjacent to Makerere University’s main gate, the hall is regarded as one of the institution’s most visible facilities and an important part of the university’s image as one of Africa’s premier centres of higher learning.
Speaking during the handover, Prof. Nawangwe said the university’s continued partnership with NEC has enabled it to retain construction investment within Uganda while achieving substantial cost savings.
“This collaboration keeps construction investment within Uganda and has resulted in significant savings estimated in billions of Uganda Shillings,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
He commended NEC for successfully delivering the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, describing it as a benchmark for quality and timely execution.
“The successful completion of Mary Stuart Hall gives us confidence that NEC will deliver CCE-Complex Hall to the same high standard, if not better,” he added.
On his part, Lt Gen Mugira welcomed the university’s continued confidence in NEC, noting that the corporation has now undertaken about four major construction projects at Makerere University.
“This track record serves as a strong motivation for the Corporation to continuously raise its performance and exceed client expectations,” Lt Gen Mugira said.
He reaffirmed NEC’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure projects on schedule while supporting national development through locally driven engineering and construction expertise.
The CCE-Complex Hall project further strengthens NEC’s growing role in Uganda’s construction and infrastructure sector, where the government-affiliated corporation continues to deliver major institutional and public infrastructure projects across the country.
The renovation is expected to improve accommodation standards for female students while preserving one of Makerere University’s historic residential facilities for future generations.