KAMPALA-The cabinet has approved Ugx 21Bn to restore the Makerere Ivory Tower building.
The 79-year old Ivory Tower building was gutted and erased by fire that destroyed invaluable records and property worth millions of shillings.
Speaking to the press yesterday, ICT Minister Hon. Chris Baryomunsi revealed that the cabinet had resolved that the iconic building known as Ivory Tower be demolished and rebuilt.
Minster Baryomunsi further indicated that the cabinet had directed the Ministry of Finance to release Ugx 21 billion to facilitate construction works.
“Cabinet decided that the Makerere main building be demolished and rebuilt. We have also directed the Minister of finance to release Shs 21 billion for the reconstruction of this main building”, Baryomunsi noted.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof.Barnabas Nawangwe applauded the government for approving the recommendations and said construction works would begin soon after reimbursement of the funds.
“I wish to thank HE. President Kaguta Museveni and the Cabinet for approving the recommendations for the restoration of Makerere’s Main Administration Building. We will now embark on the reconstruction of the historic and iconic building.”
It’s also worth remembered that weeks after the fire, the university announced that it would start fundraising drives to raise Ugx15 billion to rebuild the iconic building.
Last year, Mastercard Foundation announced a contribution of $1 million (Ugx 3.7 billion) towards the reconstruction works.
The mystery fire according to a report compiled in February 2020, by the Criminal Investigations Department and the Ministry of Works, was due to an electric short circuit arising from a faulty electrical system.
