Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga has been installed as the new Chancellor of Makerere University. The installation took place on Wednesday during a ceremony that also marked the reopening of the university’s iconic main building, the ‘Ivory Tower’, which was destroyed by a fire in 2020.
President Museveni, accompanied by Janet Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports, presided over the event. Dr. Kiyonga takes over from Professor Ezra Suruma.
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University. He presides at all ceremonial assemblies of the University and in this name, confers degrees and other academic titles and distinctions. The President appoints the Chancellor on the recommendation of the University Council.
President Museveni praised Kiyonga for his longstanding dedication and service to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) which was pivotal in Uganda’s liberation efforts.. Government allocated sh21 billion for the restoration works of the historic building, whose original construction began in 1938 with funding from several sources including regional governments, the Uganda protectorate government, and several individuals.
According to the reconstruction plans, the exterior of the building has been restored to its original grandeur. However, interior changes have been made to reflect modern designs and safety standards. Notably, the traditional wooden floors have been replaced with tiles and terrazzo, as wood was considered a contributing factor to the spread of the .