Fire guts and burns to the ground the iconic Makerere University tower

Flames engulf Makerere University's iconic Ivory Tower, a historic loss for Uganda's oldest university.

What is left of the Makerere University main building is smoke, ashes and ciders after a fire gutted the ivory tower and spread through the entire structure in the wee hours of Saturday.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, an essential section of the building that stores students records had been razed.

“All the records on the side the fire started, have all been lost,” Prof Nawangwe declared.

It is also reported that most of the finance department, the central registry, University Secretary’s Office & University store were destroyed.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, by Sunday morning, the fire brigade was still on the ground battling the last bits of the glowing flames.

Flames ravage Makerere University's Ivory Tower, leaving a smoldering shell.

The fire quickly spread through the floors when the fire brigade equipment failed to access the inner parts of the tower. More specialized equipment was called in but it was too late.

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Flames Engulf Makerere University's Ivory Tower

The Vice-Chancellor has revealed that the university will restore the Main Administration building in the shortest time.

"We are determined to restore the building to its historic state in the shortest time possible,” he posted on Twitter.

The first lady and Minister of Education, Janet Museveni arrived at the scene at 11:40 am to access the situation.

First Lady Janet Museveni and officials from the Ministry of Education visit the damaged Makerere University main building.

A highly placed source has revealed that President Museveni will also be visiting Makerere University soon.

The entire University has been cordoned off by police and SFC soldiers, only and access to the site is restricted.

Makerere University's iconic Ivory Tower, built in 1941, stands in glory.

The Makerere University Ivory Tower building is one of the university’s iconic and oldest. It was completed in 1941 under the leadership of George C. Turner, Principal, Makerere College who led the University from 1939 to 1946. 

The Duke of Gloucester, representing King George VI cut the tape for the building construction on 3rd November 1938.

Before the inferno, the Main Building's 20th-century unique architecture stood out as a reminder and symbol of British domineering culture.

The building’s construction delayed on due to a scarcity of resources as Britain grappled with the costs of World War II.

Subsequently, some of the carpentry work had to be done on-site at the then Technical College.

Uganda Fire Brigade truck sprays a water cannon to douse lingering flames at Makerere University's Ivory Tower.

The Principal then focused on turning Makerere into a University College and establishing buildings.

As a result both the St. Francis and St. Augustine Chapels were completed in the same year 1941 and by 1944.

Burnt papers, furniture, and twisted metal clutter the fire-damaged second floor of Makerere University's Ivory Tower.

The British House of Commons also planned further for the establishment of a School of Civil Engineering.

In 1949, it became a University College affiliated to the University College of London, offering courses leading to the general degrees of its then mother institution.

On July 1, 1970, Makerere became an independent national university of the Republic of Uganda, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses leading to its own awards.