EDITOR
The Vice Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Prof. Pauline Byakika Kibwika, has expressed her gratitude to the Government of Uganda for funding the construction of a new facility for the Faculty of Computing and Informatics. The facility aims to address the long-standing challenge of limited space for academic programs.
Prof. Byakika conveyed her appreciation during the official handover of the building, which cost the government over UGX 11 billion. The new facility is located at the Kihumiro campus along the Mbarara–Bushenyi–Ishaka–Fort Portal highway.
Despite the addition of the new building, Prof. Byakika highlighted that space constraints remain a significant challenge, particularly for other faculties such as Medicine and Science, as well as for administrative offices. She emphasized the need for additional infrastructure to accommodate these critical areas in the future.
The University Secretary, Vincent Kansiime Kwatampora, noted that the university plans to relocate the Faculty of Science from the town campus to the Kihumiro campus as part of its development strategy. He also commended the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) for their excellent work on the project and hinted at future collaborations.
University Engineer Patrick Mujunansi stated that the new building will serve multiple purposes, including teaching, training, and research. It is equipped to support researchers, undergraduate students, and short courses in computing, informatics, and communication technology.
Eng. Mujunansi explained that the project was executed in two phases, with the first phase (2017–2019) costing UGX 3.8 billion. The second phase, which took three years to complete, cost UGX 8.3 billion and involved installing a modern lift system, plastering, painting, terrazzo and tiled floors, and a solar energy system to supplement hydroelectricity.
Eng. Buganda Brian from the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) reported that the facility is 99% complete and ready for use ahead of the upcoming semester, as per the university’s request.
