By Ssenkayi Marvin Ezra
In a momentous ceremony held on 15 August 2025, Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, officially reopened the newly renovated Mary Stuart Hall at Makerere University—the oldest and largest female residence at the institution. Originally built in 1947, the hall was named after Mary Stuart, wife of Anglican Archbishop Simon Stuart, who is credited for championing women’s admission to the university.
Following this renovation at a cost of UGX 10.5 billion, this hall has emerged not just refreshed, but reimagined, marking a significant milestone for student welfare in Uganda’s higher education landscape.
Prior to renovation, Mary Stuart Hall was emblematic of the broader decay that plagued Makerere’s student housing: crumbling balconies, peeling paint, poor drainage, broken toilets, sparse showers, and a lift that had barely worked for 50 years.
In testimonies, many students recounted climbing countless stairs after exhausting hospital shifts, only to be confronted by muddy floors and a lack of privacy.
Over the past year, the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) has undertaken a thorough renovation which was completed by July 25. The renovation covered the hall’s structure, electrical and plumbing systems, roof replacement, upgraded dining and kitchen areas, and improved accessibility through ramps and solar lighting, as well as repairing the previous non-functional lift.
Today, Mary Stuart Hall shines with functionality and dignity. The refurbishment includes a modern lift, enhanced lighting, new pantries, laundry facilities, a reading room, and a senior common room. Bathrooms and showers now offer privacy and hygiene; toilets include partitions, mirrors, and proper drainage. An entire floor is dedicated to students with disabilities. The hall will now accommodate 512 female students, up from its former capacity of 376, narrowing the gender facility gap ever so slightly.
The chairlady of Mary Stuart Hall, Anthea Ampire, described the revamped dormitory as “a beacon of hope”—a powerful testament to female empowerment and academic possibility.
During her remarks, the First Lady likened the restoration of the hall to a restoration of the students’ dignity, emphasising that such infrastructure nurtures academic excellence and character development. She reaffirmed the government’s broad plan to modernise student housing across public universities and urged students to embrace moral frameworks like the Emerging Leaders Programme and SAFE values (Sober, Addiction-Free, Financially Faithful, Education-Focused).
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted Mary Stuart Hall’s historical legacy, having been named after a pioneer of women’s education, and extended gratitude to President Museveni for prioritising student welfare through infrastructure. He confirmed that Complex Hall is next in line for renovation.
Council Chair Lorna Magara, on her part, highlighted that despite increased development funding and raised staff salaries, only 13% of Makerere’s students currently benefit from campus accommodation—a pressing welfare gap that still needs addressing.
The reopening of Mary Stuart Hall is definitely more than a celebration of brick and mortar: it represents a recommitment to female leadership, academic dignity, and equitable education. For all of Makerere’s students, and indeed the broader university community, its transformation signals that their welfare truly matters.
Yet, as public institutions rebuild, private universities must not be left behind. Every student deserves safe, supportive, and empowering living conditions. The gold standard set at Makerere should become the baseline—across all institutions, public and private alike.