Sep 21, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The Ugandan police forces are investigating the cause of a strange fire that destroyed a historic building of the Makerere University and lots of property in it.
According to senior lecturers of the Makerere University, the building that caught fire on Saturday is the main administrative building and one of the oldest buildings on campus.
It is known for safe keeping of students records.
“A lot of property has been destroyed. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the exact cause of the fire,” read part of a police statement seen by Nyamilepedia.
Attempts to save the building by the Ugandan fire fighters were defeated by the highly powerful and forceful flames.
“Efforts to save the left wing of the Building are being defeated by the highly powerful and forceful flames. The left wing is custody the Human Resource/staff records of the university. Spanning the years this university has lived.” Makerere University officials announced on their twitter handle.
Efforts to save the left wing of the Building are being defeated by the highly powerful and forceful flames. The left wing is custody the Human Resource/staff records of the university. Spanning the years this university has lived. pic.twitter.com/S9kAddCq12
— Makerere University (@MakerereU) September 20, 2020
According to the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the University will do its best to restore the building, saying “but we are determined to restore the building to its historic state in the shortest time possible.”
“It is a very dark morning for Makerere University. Our iconic Main Administration Building caught fire and the destruction is unbelievable,” Prof Nawangwe said.
It is a very dark morning for Makerere University. Our iconic Main Administration Building caught fire and the destruction is unbelievable. But we are determined to restore the building to its historic state in the shortest time possible.
— Barnabas Nawangwe (@ProfNawangwe) September 20, 2020
On the positive side, however, the University Vice-Chancellor confirmed that all the past and current records were not destroyed by fire saying that the school administration safely stored every record in digital [cloud] form.
The fire at our Main Building was a very big tragedy. However, I would like to assure all our alumni, staff, students, and General public that ALL our records past and current; Human Resource, student, Academic and financial records are ALL safely stored in digital form.
— Barnabas Nawangwe (@ProfNawangwe) September 20, 2020
At the time of this writing, Ms. Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports was expected to visit the scene to witness the destruction and to provide more support to the university.
According to reliable sources, this main adminstrative building was completed in 1941 under the colonial leadership, particularly under the leadership of Mr. George C. Turner, Principal, Makerere College (1939-46).
The Makerere University is one of the oldest and most prestigious Universities in Africa. It was first established as a technical institution in 1922 and since then it has been well known for graduating some of the most prominent African leaders.
