By Johannah Nantongo
Construction of a Shs96.6 billion infrastructure complex for Makerere University’s College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has kicked off with the university handing over the site to contractor Roko Construction Ltd.
The 15,000-square-metre complex, funded by the government, will provide teaching, research and graduate training facilities for the college, which has expanded significantly in recent years.
Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe described the site handover as a historic milestone for the university and CoBAMS, saying the college has outgrown its existing and fragmented facilities.
“This is a historic moment in many ways. CoBAMS has come a long way. Those of you who are here know that CoBAMS started as a breakaway from what was then the Faculty of Social Sciences. It has grown tremendously to become one of the largest colleges at Makerere University,” Prof Nawangwe said.
He said the college’s expansion in programmes and student numbers had placed pressure on its existing accommodation, making the new complex necessary.
“It is no longer a very small school. It has grown very big, and because of that growth, it has also been operating from accommodation that is fragmented,” he said on September 4.
Prof Nawangwe said the new complex would give CoBAMS a consolidated facility and support the university’s broader transformation agenda.
“I think it is going to be a fitting home for our second-largest college. I believe it will soon become the largest, because they have got a lot of new programmes, and nationally in Uganda, the subjects they teach are among the most sought-after by students,” he said.
Roko Construction Chief Executive Officer Mark Koehler, who represented the contractor at the ceremony, acknowledged concerns over delays in some of the company’s previous projects and said the firm was determined to improve its delivery on the Makerere project.
“Over the past few years, we have heard comments such as, ‘Roko is slow.’ People say, ‘Roko may take longer, but they will deliver the quality.’ So, we have listened to these comments, and we have challenged ourselves on this issue,” Mr Koehler said.
“For this project, our commitment is clear. We want to deliver the quality for which Roko is known, but at the same time, we want to deliver within the agreed programme,” he added.
Mr Koehler called for close cooperation among Makerere University, the consultant, contractor and other stakeholders, particularly on timely decision-making and the availability of funds.
Officials pose for a photo after the site handover at Makerere University in Kampala on September 4, 2026. PHOTO/BUSEIN SAMILU.
Symbion Uganda Limited, the project consultant, was represented by its managing director, Mr Pius Muli.
Mr Muli said the complex would include offices, academic facilities and extracurricular and social spaces designed to provide an improved learning environment.
He said Symbion had worked with Makerere management for several months to develop the project brief and ensure that the design reflected the university’s requirements.
“I am happy that today we have reached a point where we are now moving into the actual implementation,” Mr Muli said.
He said sustainability had been considered in the design to ensure that the facility would remain functional and affordable to maintain over the long term.
“We want to create a building that will stand the test of time. We also want to ensure that it does not become another burden to the University when it comes to maintenance over an extended period of time,” he said.
Mr Muli said the facility had been designed to accommodate the college’s academic and administrative needs and congratulated Roko on securing the construction contract.
The project comes as CoBAMS expands its academic programmes and student population, increasing pressure on its existing infrastructure.
CoBAMS Principal Prof Edward Bbaale said the new complex would strengthen the college’s position in business, economics and statistics education and research.
“Once it is completed, I think that the College of Business will be one of the leading schools of business, economics and statistics in the world,” Prof Bbaale said.