Higher Education in Africa: Makerere University
East Africa’s premiere institute of learning, Makerere University was founded in 1922. Makerere University is one of the oldest and most prestigious Universities in Africa. In 1922, the school, which was later renamed Uganda Technical College, opened its doors to 14 day students who began studying Carpentry, Building and Mechanics.
The College soon began offering various other courses in Medical Care, Agriculture, Veterinary Sciences and Teacher Training. It expanded over the years to become a Center for Higher Education in East Africa in 1935. In 1937, the College started developing into an institution of higher education, offering post-school certificate courses.
Famous Alumni
- Current DRC President Joseph Kabila
- Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
- Archbishop John Sentamu
- Ugandan Economist Maria Kiwanuka
- Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni
- Former Ugandan President Milton Obote
- Former Tanzanian Presidents Julius Nyerere and Benjamin Mkapa
- Former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki
The University currently has 9 Colleges and one school offering programs for about 36,000 undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates. The university has the following colleges
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
- College of Business and Management Sciences
- College of Computing & Information Sciences
- College of Education and External Studies
- College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal resources and BioSecurity
Makerere University is located in Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city with a population of approximately 1.6 million.
