The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, has proposed turning student residences into short-term rentals during academic holidays, in a bid to generate more income and maximise the use of university facilities.
Speaking on Friday evening during the official handover of the newly renovated Mary Stuart Hall, Prof Nawangwe described the move as a practical way to make better use of dormitories that remain idle for months at a time.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
“I think we waste our resources here,” he said. “The quality of the buildings is much better than many hotels… So why do we keep them closed for three months without making any money?”
He suggested that the university’s commercial arm, Makerere Holdings Ltd, could manage bookings for conference attendees and tourists, effectively transforming the halls into temporary hotels during the breaks.
“People who have conferences can bring their participants to stay here. They can even hold their conferences here and give us some money,” he added.
Prof Nawangwe also proposed eliminating the long-standing policy requiring students to bring their own mattresses to campus. Instead, the university could provide bedding for a rental fee, a practice he says was in place during his time as a student in the 1970s.
“Why should we require a university student, especially a girl, to carry a mattress to Makerere?” he asked. “Why can’t we buy the mattresses and have the students just hire them when they arrive?”
His comments came as the university celebrated the completion of upgrades to Mary Stuart Hall, one of its oldest female-only residences. The facility, which will now accommodate 521 students, was refurbished by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), following a directive from the presidency to modernise all student halls.
Lt Gen James Mugira, head of NEC, warned students not to let the improved living conditions distract them from their studies.
“While the new facility will reduce stress and promote relaxation, don’t over-enjoy the comfort… and forget about your studies,” he said. “Let’s also keep this facility clean and undamaged.”
The renovation maintained key architectural elements of the historic building. Dean of Students Rodney Rugyema praised NEC for its preservation efforts, saying the history of the hall is “precious” and must be honoured.
The Mary Stuart upgrade follows the recent refurbishment of Lumumba Hall, part of a wider effort to modernise infrastructure at Uganda’s oldest and most prestigious university.
Also Read: Amama Mbabazi’s Daughter Wanted Over Unpaid Shs 450m Loan
