Main Library Sections
AFRICANA / SPECIAL COLLECTION SECTION
The Africana / Special Collection section is located on the 4th level
of the Main Library. Africana Materials include books & periodicals
related to East Africa, general Africana books by explorers and travelers,
plus books and documents on Uganda.
The collection is significant both for research and as the primary
depository of Ugandan history. It contains papers, letters, notes,
reports, dairies of events, books of history, travel, church memoranda,
registers and journals from individuals, private & official organizations
important to the Ugandan heritage. The section also holds important
historical documents referring to Kenya and Tanzania during the
early years of colonization. Most of the early materials date as
far back as the late nineteenth century, and the initial half of
the twentieth century to independence in 1962. In 1958, by an Act
of Parliament, Makerere University Library became a Depository Library
for all Ugandan Publications. This makes it the richest collection
of documents on Uganda.
Theses and Dissertations:
This collection consists mainly of Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
University Collection:
In general the University Collection is limited to archival material and to works, which are preponderantly of Makerere University interest.
Newspapers:
This collection comprises of copies of the first newspaper in Uganda to date.
Manuscripts and Archives:
This is a collection of materials, mostly of non-government nature
consisting of minutes of the Uganda Chamber of Commerce from its
beginning in 1905 to 1951, Sir Apolo Kagwa’s papers, Apolo Kivebulaya’s diaries, Ham Mukasa and Esera Kabali’s
papers. There are also Church Missionary Society files within these
holdings.
Microfilms:
The library has a collection of about 2,900 35mm roll film of periodical and newspaper back issues, manuscripts and theses.
Music collection:
The Library has a collection of works about
music and music-related materials which include;
personal and organisational papers;
dissertations and theses, manuscripts, archival
sound recordings of folklore, oral histories and
performance history, as well as materials that
support study, teaching and research in music.
The library also collects music materials that
form part of the documentary record of culture,
as part of the Library’s national heritage
responsibilities. The library has got a well
equipped listening centre located on Ground
Floor of the New Library Building.
Photographic Collection:
The library has a very rich collection of photographs and negatives that date back to the late 19th Century. Most of the photographs depict events of historical interest in Uganda.
International Organisations:
Makerere University Library is a designated Depository for the United Nations and a number of other International Bodies.
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