In a ceremony held at Makerere University on Friday, the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) officially handed over the newly renovated Mary Stuart Hall to the university management.
The handover was presided over by Lt Gen James Mugira, Managing Director of NEC, and received by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe.
Mary Stuart Hall, one of the university’s iconic female residences, had fallen into disrepair over the decades. Its renovation was undertaken by NEC Construction Works and Engineering Ltd, a subsidiary of NEC under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Speaking during the ceremony, Prof Nawangwe expressed profound gratitude to NEC and the UPDF for the high-quality work and timely completion of the project.
“I thank NEC for a job very well done and the Government for allocating the resources that made this possible,” said Prof Nawangwe. “The UPDF has transformed from an instrument of terror into a force for national development. This renovation is testimony to that transformation.”
He also acknowledged the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, for initiating the Presidential Directive on renovating all halls of residence, and thanked the Ministries of Education and Sports, and Finance, Planning and Economic Development for their continued support.
One of the most notable upgrades in the renovation is the restoration of the hall’s elevators, which had been non-functional for over 50 years. They are now fully operational with modern technology.
Representing the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof Anthony Mugagga, Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, gave a moving speech thanking God for witnessing the handover.
“Previously, we thought soldiers were only good with guns. Today, they build roads, schools, and even prepare for papal visits—as they did in Namugongo within two weeks,” Prof Mugagga remarked, referring to the UPDF’s role in constructing infrastructure for Pope Francis’s 2015 visit.
He also commended the Vice Chancellor for his leadership in transforming university infrastructure and thanked the University Council and Senate for their support.
In his address, Lt Gen Mugira highlighted the strategic importance of the project and reaffirmed NEC’s commitment to national development.
“We are proud to have completed this project to high standards, on time, and at a reasonable cost,” Gen Mugira said.
“But I urge the university to ensure these facilities are well maintained. And to the students: this is your home—please protect it and don’t vandalize what has been restored.”
As a gesture of goodwill, NEC donated solar equipment to enhance sustainability at the hall.
Gen Mugira also revealed that NEC has carried out similar construction projects across the country, including at Mbarara, Gulu, Lira, Busitema, Mountains of the Moon, and Soroti universities.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Eng Okuk Geoffrey Bright Owera, Makerere’s Director of Estates, and Eng Brian Buhanda, General Manager of NEC Construction Works and Engineering Ltd.
