The state of the art library, to be built by Makerere University and partners in honour of Kenya's former president, in December this year, will further contribute to the academic advancement and Excellency at East Africa's oldest University.

The multipurpose building to be completed in five years, will house the Mwai Kibaki endowed chair in Economics and the East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership., Public Finance and Public Policy. 

According to Makerere Chancellor Prof Mondo Kagonyera, Makerere chose to name the library after Mwai Kibaki the third President of Kenya because he was the first African to graduate with a 1st Class Honours Degree from Makerere in the Arts in 1955. He was also the first African to graduate with distinction in Public Finance programme at the London School of Economics in 1958. 

Uganda Government will contribute $5 million towards the Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library estimated to cost $50million with 40million going to the Presidential Library and 10million to Mwai Kibaki endowed Chair in Economics.

In a speech read for him by the Vice President Edward Ssekandi during the launch at Makerere University today, President Yoweri Museveni commended Makerere University for the various innovations the University has made in Science and Technology.

“I encourage you to stay on course to advance your vision in illuminating Makerere University’s capabilities on the global scene” he said. 

The President said that the NRM Government plans to transform Uganda into an upper middle income country, as envisaged in Vision 2040 saying that education has a big role to play in in ensuring that Uganda does not remain poor or backward with more than half of her population educated.

He described the initiative as a landmark in the wake of the University’s count down to its 100 years of existence during which Makerere University has produced what he called many vanguard pan-Africanist Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers.

Besides Kenya’s immediate former President Mwai Kibaki, the President named, Tanzania first President, Mwalimu Juluis Nyerere, Uganda’s Dr Apolo Milton Obote, former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa, DRC Joseph Kabila, Kenya’s Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and  Sir Edward Mutesa among others.

Speaking during the same occasion President Kibaki appreciated Makerere University for the recognition which he said was happy to witness during his life time and called for support to ensure its successful completion to benefit the young generation. 

The Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics will be managed by an internationally recognised Professor of Economics while the East African Mwai Kibaki Center for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy will, among other things, provide platform for interaction among African policy makers and implementers on monetary and finance matters

The function was attended by the Minister for Education Jessica Alupo, members of the diplomatic fraternity, academicians and alumni of Makerere University from the region.