The University Librarian is the overall head of Makerere University Library Services, which comprise of the Main Library and seven specialised Branch Libraries. Five of these are located at the Makerere University main campus (namely: Education Library, Veterinary Medicine Library, I.A.C.E. Library, MISR Library and EASLIS Library) and two off campus (namely: Albert Cook Library at the College of Health Sciences in Mulago; and MUARIK Library at the Agricultural Institute in Kabanyolo). At the centre of the University is the Main Library, situated on Makerere Hill, opposite the Faculty of Agriculture.
About the University Librarian
Ruth Nalumaga is the University Librarian, Makerere University, effective June 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science (BLIS) from the East African School of Library and Information Science, Makerere University, a Master’s degree in Librarianship from Monash University, Australia and PhD in Library and Information Science from the University of Gothenburg and the University College of Boras, Sweden, 2009. She is a Library Associate Professor, academic supervisor and Lecturer. Her research interests are Gender and information access, Information behavior, Library History and Information Policy. She is currently the Chairperson, Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL), 2022-2024. Her library professional career started in the Institute of Social Research, MISR in 1996 and later as College Librarian, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She was promoted to Deputy University Librarian in July 2018 till June 2023 and thereafter the University Librarian.
The Library
The Main Library consists of eight sections namely: Reference and Circulation – whose main functions are to register library users, handle book reservations and issue library rules and regulations; The Africana/Special Collections – the primary depository for Ugandan history consisting manuscripts, newspapers, microfilms, music and photographic collections; The Periodicals – housing print serial/journal publications obtained from a variety of sources; Law – which houses a special collection consisting of textbooks on law, human rights, bound volumes of periodicals plus law reports from Britain and Wales, America, India and Africa and Uganda.
Other sections include: The Book Bank – which maintains a database of acquired books and distributes the new processed books to respective units among other services; The International Development Agency (IDA) – which houses reference materials such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, year books, and text books for undergraduate studies; Technical Services – which provides services such as cataloguing and classification, and is out of bounds to library users; Digitisation – charged with converting manuscripts, theses and documents into digital format; and The Microfilming and Photographic section.
In addition to the seven sepcialised Branch Libraries, Makerere University Library serves as a National Reference Library. In this capacity, it is a legal depository of all works published in Uganda, including government publications. It is also the depository of United Nations' publications and related bodies. The Library also boasts of a special collection of information resources, consisting of the University archives, and the history of medicine in Uganda (located in Albert Cook Branch Library). These unique collections are preserved and provide access to interesting information on Uganda's heritage.
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Contact Information
The University Librarian: Assoc. Prof. Ruth Nalumaga
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 414 533735
Fax: +256 414 540374
Head, Reference and Circulation: Ms. Patrick Sekikome
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
E-Mail: patrick.sekikome[at]mak.ac.ug
Head, Africana/Special Collections: Ms. Rhoda Nalubega
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
E-Mail: rhoda.nalubega[at]mak.ac.ug
Head, Law: Ms. Clementine Namusisi
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Head, Book Bank: Ms. Maria Nankya Mwebe
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Ms. Caroline Kobusingye
Head Periodicals Section & E-Resources National Coordinator
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Email: caroline.kobusingye[at]mak.ac.ug
Head, Technical Services : Ms. Ferrie Nalusse
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Head, Digitization: Dr. Miriam Kakai
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Mr. Timothy Sentamu
Head, ICT Section:
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Head, Bindery: Mr. Julius Ssenyojo
The University Library
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
For more information please visit the Library page at https://mulib.mak.ac.ug