Soroti University has shut its newly constructed main gate after granite cladding detached and fell from the arch, raising safety concerns less than three weeks after the institution received the Shs1.2 billion facility.
Soroti University has temporarily closed its newly constructed Shs1.2 billion main gate after granite and stone cladding detached and fell from the entrance arch, posing a safety risk to pedestrians and motorists.
In a memo dated October 14, 2026, the university’s Directorate of Estates and Works said the closure took immediate effect to allow the contractor to undertake remedial works.
“The Main Gate has developed defects involving the debonding and falling of granite/stone cladding from the gate arch. This poses a significant risk to human life and property,” the memo reads.
The university said the decision followed consultations with the contractor, the National Housing and Construction Company, which is expected to rectify the defects before the entrance can be reopened.
“The gate shall only be reopened after completion of the correction of identified defects works and confirmation by our technical personnel,” the memo adds.
Staff, students, visitors and other road users have been directed to use the previous alternative access route during the closure and comply with safety instructions issued by the university.
The closure comes less than three weeks after the university officially received the new gate, raising questions about the quality of the construction work and the durability of the materials used.
The project, which commenced in September 2025, was valued at Shs1.2 billion and included construction of a perimeter wall, security facilities, surveillance cameras, solar installations and communication systems.
The facility is equipped with 13 surveillance cameras intended to monitor activity around the main entrance and help detect potential intruders.
The investment was intended to strengthen security at the university as the institution continues to expand its operations.
However, the failure of the stone cladding has forced the university to restrict access through the entrance while corrective works are undertaken.
The university apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure, saying the measure was necessary to protect the university community and other road users.
The entrance will remain closed until the identified defects have been corrected and the university’s technical personnel have confirmed that it is safe to reopen.