General

The Vice Chancellor’s speech on the 59th Graduation ceremony

Published

17 years ago

January 29, 2009

This colorful graduation ceremony has a total of 12,346 students graduating with PhDs, Masters degrees, bachelors degrees and diplomas in various fields, and this is the biggest ever number of graduands ever in a year. Of this number, there are 30 PhDs.

This colorful graduation ceremony has a total of 12,346 students graduating with PhDs, Masters degrees, bachelors degrees and diplomas in various fields, and this is the biggest ever number of graduands ever in a year. Of this number, there are 30 PhDs.

Welcome remarks

It is with great pleasure that I once again welcome you to Makerere University on the 59th graduation ceremony. You are all most welcome. Let me also take this opportunity to wish you a happy and prosperous 2009. As a university we have began the New Year with hope that it will be a good year for us as we seek to take Makerere to greater heights.

Graduation Statistics

This week we have a total of 12,346 students graduating with PhDs, Masters degrees, bachelors degrees and diplomas in various fields, and this is the biggest ever number of graduands ever in a year. Of this number, there are 30 PhDs. This is also an increase from the last graduation. Of these, five (5) are female and 25 male. Mr. Chancellor Sir, four (4) of these are Joint PhDs in Medicine awarded jointly by Makerere University and the Karolinska Institute of Sweden.

A total of 878 students are graduating with masters degrees, of which 336 are female and 542 are male. In addition, 34 female and 76 male students making a total of 110 are graduating with Post Graduate diplomas while 231 are undergraduate diplomas, with 126 female and 105 male.

The majority of graduands this week are undergraduates with 5197 female and 5900 male totalling 11,097.

The female graduands make up 46.2% while the males are 53.8%. Mr. Chancellor Sir, the percentage figures clearly indicate that we are making great strides in our efforts to educate more female students and make Makerere a truly equal opportunities institution in line with the National objectives of empowering the women. You will recall Sir, that last year we had 43.7% females and 57.3% male. These figures show that the gap has closed significantly and we will soon realise parity.

A total of 180 of the graduands this week have attained First Class degrees and I would like us all to commend them on their achievement. Last year we had 58 First Class degrees. This brings to mind the old joke that either the examinations were easy or the students are becoming cleverer or both. Whichever of these, I certainly commend them on their achievement.

Mr. Chancellor Sir, the best student overall this year is Ishengoma Emmanuel who scored a CGPA of 4.91 out of 5.0 in Bachelor of Industrial and Fine Arts. He is also the best in the humanities. Mr. Olaka Joseph Derrick performed best in the Sciences with a CGPA of 4.86 with a BSc in Computer Science.

While there are significant challenges in managing the increasing numbers of university students, the bigger number of graduands is a testimony to the role Makerere plays in meeting the vast demand for higher education in the country and in helping to build a human resource for national development.

For the entire speech, Click here to download…

General

Admission Lists -Disability and District Quota Schemes 2025/26

Published

19 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Mak Editor

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission list of candidates admitted under the Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2025/26 Academic Year.

Kindly follow the links below to access the lists:-

General

Change of Course/Programme for Undergraduate Admissions 2025/2026

Published

20 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Mak Editor

The Office of the Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists for the recommended for change of course/ programme for Degree/Diploma Scheme and Direct entry for Private/Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026.

The lists released can be accessed by following the respective links below:

General

Makerere Convocation to Host a CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit 2025

Published

3 days ago

August 29, 2025

Mak Editor

Makerere University Convocation (MUC) CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025, 8:00AM-12:00PM, Convocation Grounds. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By Elvis Lubanga}

Kampala, Uganda – Makerere University Convocation (MUC) is set to host the CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit on Tuesday, 2^nd September 2025, bringing together a distinguished assembly of leaders and stakeholders.

The half-day summit will convene CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and development partners to engage in meaningful dialogue, foster collaboration, and explore investment opportunities that can unlock the potential of Uganda’s next generation of talent. Running under the theme: “Exploring the Opportunities for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Value Creation for Accelerated Socio-Economic Integration and Development of Sub-Saharan Africa,” the event reflects Makerere University’s ambition to position itself as a hub of knowledge, innovation, and transformation.

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja will officiate as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Peter Kimbowa, CEO of the CEO Summit Uganda, will deliver the keynote address. Their participation underscores the importance of the summit in strengthening linkages between academia, industry, and government, and in advancing Uganda’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.

Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, will welcome the invited participants and highlighted the university’s determination to work collaboratively with partners to shape impactful solutions for Uganda and the region.

“We want to work with you to see how, together, we can move our country and continent forward. I invited all of you CEOs to Makerere so that we can brainstorm on what we can do to transform our nation and Africa at large,” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.

According to Ms. Grace Cherotich Ruto, Chief Convener of the summit and Vice Chairperson of the Makerere University Convocation, this will be the first event of its kind. She noted that the summit seeks to foster mentorship, internships, and employment linkages as a means of bridging the gap between industry and academia, while positioning Convocation as a driver of socio-economic transformation.

A key highlight of the summit will be the unveiling of the Makerere University Convocation’s Massive Transformation Purpose, a bold framework that converts five critical takeaways into independent working teams with clear Terms of Reference, objectives, data-driven activities, and measurable outcomes. The plan institutionalizes vision, distributes ownership, and ensures sustainability through quarterly reporting, evidence-based impact, and global benchmarking. The five teams—From Ivory Tower to Impact Tower, Diaspora Dividend vs. Brain Drain, Intergenerational Knowledge Bridges, AI & Future of Learning, and From Convocation to Covenant—are designed to commercialize research, harness diaspora capital, institutionalize mentorship, drive digital transformation, and sustain alumni–faculty–student engagement through a covenant model. Collectively, they transform Convocation from a ceremonial event into a movement of accountability, innovation, and sustainable socio-economic impact for Uganda and Africa.

The summit has already attracted wide endorsement from leading companies and agencies, demonstrating its timeliness and relevance.

Mr. Eugene Too, General Manager at Haco Industries, affirmed the company’s support, stating:

“Haco Industries endorses the Makerere University CEOs Forum. We believe the Summit’s objectives align with our broader goals of creating impact in education, supporting internships, job placement, and mentorship programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud to be associated with the Summit at Makerere University Convocation.”

Eng. Shaft Mukwaya, Secretary to the Equal Opportunities Commission of Uganda, commended the Convocation’s role in promoting inclusivity:

“Makerere University Convocation has proven to be a steadfast ally in achieving our mission of pursuing an inclusive society in which no one is left behind. We are honoured to be associated with this summit.”

Roofings Uganda has equally expressed strong endorsement, noting that the event aligns closely with their corporate vision:

“At Roofings, we are privileged to endorse the Makerere University Convocation CEOs/Investors’ Summit and call upon all invited guests to be part of this noble cause. Makerere University is a valued partner in nurturing talent and fostering innovation, which aligns closely with our vision of being an accelerator for a sustainable Africa. As sponsors, we are honoured to be associated with this summit that brings together leaders, investors, and visionaries to shape inclusive growth and development.”

With its broad stakeholder support, clear strategic framework, and focus on outcomes, the Makerere University Convocation’s CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit is positioned as a landmark event. It will provide a unique platform for academia, industry, and government to converge in pursuit of sustainable growth, innovation, and socio-economic development, not only for Uganda but for the entire Sub-Saharan African region.