SOROTI CITY — Soroti University has temporarily closed its Sh1.2 billion main gate, barely three weeks after its commissioning, following the discovery of structural defects involving granite and stone cladding falling from the gate arch.

In a memo dated October 14, 2026, the university’s Directorate of Estates and Works said the defects posed a significant risk to human life and property, prompting management to suspend pedestrian and vehicular access through the entrance with immediate effect.

The closure is intended to allow the contractor, National Housing and Construction Company Limited (NHCC), to undertake corrective works to address the defects and restore the gate’s safety.

“The Main Gate shall only be reopened after completion of the correction of identified defects works and confirmation by our technical personnel,” the memo stated.

Staff, students, visitors and other road users have been directed to use the previously designated alternative access route and observe all safety instructions during the closure.

The university apologised for the inconvenience, saying the decision was necessary to prioritise the safety of its community.

The development comes less than a month after the university commissioned the modern entrance on September 25, 2026, in a project intended to strengthen institutional security and improve access control.

The facility, constructed by NHCC at a cost of Sh1.2 billion, features a 60-metre wall fence, a security house with a detention room, 13 CCTV surveillance cameras, solar power systems, monitoring screens, computers, walkways and provisions for persons with disabilities.

Construction began on September 28, 2025, and was completed on May 15, 2026, following delays of 132 days attributed to election-related challenges.

During the commissioning, university officials revealed that the contractor had received approximately Sh1.1 billion, representing 88.3 per cent of the contract sum, with the outstanding balance expected to be paid after the rectification of identified defects.

The handover also initiated a six-month Defects Liability Period, during which the contractor was expected to address outstanding issues identified on the project’s snag list.

The latest defects have brought renewed attention to the contractor’s responsibility to ensure the facility meets the required safety standards.

At the commissioning, Deputy Chief Estates Officer Eng. Paul Anguria said the project was designed to provide a modern, secure and functional entrance for regulating vehicle and pedestrian movement.

University management has not specified how long the gate will remain closed, stating that reopening will depend on the completion of repairs and confirmation by technical personnel that the structure is safe for use.