Makerere University has unveiled a new Daycare and Breastfeeding Centre designed to help parenting students and staff balance academic and professional responsibilities with childcare.
The facility, established in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Uganda, is housed at the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) within the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility.
It will cater to children aged zero to five years, offering a safe and stimulating environment while enabling parents to focus on their work and studies.
During the launch on August 7, 2025, UNDP Uganda’s Acting Resident Representative Ian King described the centre as a significant step towards gender equality in higher education.
“This is about ensuring children are safe and parents can work or study without worry,” he said. He also commended IGDS for leading the way as the first institution in Africa to join the Gender Equality Seal initiative, backed by the European Union.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the facility addresses a long-standing challenge at the university. “Many young women drop out of university because they become mothers,” he said. “This centre will help them continue their education and work.” He expressed gratitude to UNDP for its continued support in building an inclusive learning environment.
Prof. Sarah Ssali, Head of IGDS, noted that while Makerere has more than 20 gender-related policies, this is the first to focus directly on childcare needs for both staff and students. “It is a shared space where children can be cared for while their parents work or attend classes,” she said.
Alumna and mother Donna Keirungi said the centre is a practical step in turning gender equality commitments into action. She recalled that the idea took shape in 2022, with UNDP’s support and benchmarking at Parliament’s established daycare facility.
Guild President Ssentamu Churchill James described the centre as a milestone in student welfare. “It will give parenting students the peace of mind to manage their studies while raising their children,” he said.
Open to both students’ and staff members’ children, including those of single fathers, the facility aligns with Makerere University’s Strategic Plan 2020–2030, which seeks to promote a healthy work-life balance.
