Fact-Check: University of Liberia Campus Roof "Leaks Like Kpatawee Waterfall"
Claim: "Presently the main campus of University of Liberia's roof leaks like Kpatawee Waterfall."
Sources: Legit News Africa, and Martin K.N. Kollie
Verdict: Exaggeration - While the roof does leak, the comparison to Kpatawee Waterfall is exaggerated.
Full Text: On May 13, 2025, online media outlet Legit News Africa posted a claim that the University of Liberia's state-run campus has a roof that "leaks like Kpatawee Waterfall." A similar post by Martin K.N. Kollie alleged that students were forced to leave UL's main campus due to harsh conditions.
The posts generated significant social media engagement:
- Legit News Africa: 254 reactions, 136 comments, 138 shares, 40.7K views
- Kollie's post: 733 reactions, 440 comments, 45.8K views
The University of Liberia has a long and distinguished history. Originally established in 1862 as Liberia College with Joseph J. Roberts as its first president, it became a full university in 1951.
Today, UL operates across four campuses: Capitol Hill, Fendall, Medical School Fendall, and the Straz-Sinji campus in Grand Cape Mount County.
The university encompasses multiple colleges, including Social Sciences and Humanities, Business and Public Administration, General Studies, Science and Technology, Education, Agriculture and Forestry, and Technical and Vocational programs.
It also houses professional schools such as the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and A.M. Dogliotti College of Health and Life Sciences.
Kpatawee Waterfall, located in Bong County approximately three hours from Monrovia, is a dramatic natural attraction where water cascades down rocky cliffs surrounded by lush tropical forest. The comparison implies a hefty water flow from the university's roof.
Verification: Our fact-checking team attempted to contact Norris Tweah, Vice President for University Relations at the University of Liberia, via WhatsApp but received no official response.
However, our fact-checker conducted an on-site visit to the main campus CAPV building and observed visible leaks and substandard infrastructure conditions. Photographic evidence documented water damage and deteriorating conditions in multiple areas of the facility.
The university's infrastructure challenges are well-documented:
- January 2024: Students demanded urgent renovations due to deteriorating conditions
- January 2025: Acting President Dr. Al Hassan Conteh called for a $42 million investment to rejuvenate the university
- Same month: President Joseph N. Boakai announced a $13.1 million renovation project for all four UL campuses during Dr. Layli Maparyan's Academic Investiture ceremony, with $3.9 million specifically allocated for infrastructure improvements, including classrooms and restrooms
Our investigation confirms that the University of Liberia's main campus does indeed suffer from significant infrastructure problems, including leaking roofs. On-site observations and photographic evidence substantiate these concerns.
However, the claim that the roof "leaks like Kpatawee Waterfall" represents a dramatic exaggeration. While the infrastructure issues are real and concerning, the comparison to a major natural waterfall is hyperbolic and does not accurately represent the actual conditions.
The university's leadership has acknowledged these challenges and secured funding for renovations, indicating that efforts are underway to address the infrastructure problems.
Conclusion: The claim is exaggerated because while the University of Liberia's main campus roof leaks, the comparison to Kpatawee Waterfall is an exaggeration that overstates the severity of the situation.
