The School of Liberal and Performing Arts dates back to 1922 when the Faculty of Arts was established to train clerks, administrators and teachers at the then Makerere College. Subjects offered at the Faculty included history, geography and all branches of English. English language was made compulsory for all students at the College who were not offering English as a major subject.
In 1944, higher courses in Arts were introduced at Makerere intended not only for teachers but also men entering administration or commerce. The introduction of the higher courses became the basis of later degree courses which was an important step in the evolution of Makerere College from a place of vocational training towards a university.
Social Studies occupied a central place to give focus for both historical and geographical studies. All students on entry had to pursue a year’s course in social studies, designed to keep them informed about their own countries.
When the Inter-University Council Delegation of June 1949 recommended that Makerere enters special relations with the University of London, degree courses were introduced in the college faculties including the Faculty of Arts.
Decree No6 of Council of November, 1954 defined the faculties and schools in accordance with the separation of the Faculty of Education from the Faculty of Arts and the making of the School of Art independent of any faculty. Throughout the 1950s, the Faculty of Arts established departments familiarised themselves with the degree structures. The History Department embarked on a plan to train a promising African to return as lecturer in African History. The English Department taught English to all new entrants and the Geography Department hosted a symposium in 1955 held under the auspices of the International Geography Union. The English Department made the Hill interesting, especially by presenting plays. The first full-length play to be staged in the newly equipped Main Hall in 1950 was entitled “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. These were the days of prominent writers Okot p'Bitek and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o.
By 1957, with the availability of holders of Higher School Certificate or its equivalent, Makerere College had become ready to begin Honours Degrees in the Faculty of Arts. In 1957, honours courses in English, History and Geography were begun. The first history honours students were required to learn French.
In 1959, the first honours students sat their final examination and all passed. History admitted its first direct entry honours students. Geography received a visiting professor and it could be offered for the Bachelor of Science special as well as for the Bachelor of Arts Honours. In 1960, history came next to Geography in admitting a post graduate student. Geography had three students. By 1967, the Faculty of Arts was also offering programmes in Religious Studies, Literature, Philosophy, Commerce, Political Science, Sociology and Law.
