General
Mak 67th Ceremony Kicks Off, Graced by Rt. Hon. Prime Minister
The Makerere University 67th Graduation Ceremony has kicked off today 21st February 2017 with a total of two hundred sixty one (261) students graduating with first class degrees in their respective courses. Set to be presided over by the Chancellor Prof. Ezra Suruma, the four day ceremony will run from 21st to 24th February 2017.
A total of Six Hundred and Ninety Seven (697) students from College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technolog (CEDAT), Four Hundred and Fifteen (415) students from College of Natural Science (CoNAS), One Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Four (1,384) from College of Education and External Studie (CEES), and Six Hundred Sixty Three (663) students from College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) who successfully met the requirements graduated with degrees and diplomas of Makerere University. The first day of Makerere University 67th graduation ceremony was graced by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Speaking to the overjoyed audience on the first day of 67th the graduation Ceremony, the Prime Minister congratulated all graduands upon reaching the important milestone in their respective lives. He equally congratulated the Parents, Guardians and Sponsors for a job well done in lighting the candle for their children to have a clear academic path in their career journey. “You have a bright future ahead of you and so choose to approach today and every day with great optimism,” he remarked.
Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda strongly advised students to take advantage of the Government Financed Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to develop and advance their careers. According to the Prime Minister, the Government of Uganda is committed to support the youth to build up income generating enterprises through various programmes, initiatives and innovations.
“The Government supports and appreciates initiatives by the youth. This is because we are much interested in developing, mentoring and enhancing the skills of the youth through innovation,” he said.
He thanked Makerere University for the invaluable role the Institution plays in training vital human resources for the region amidst several challenges and highly emphasized the need to embrace dialogue at all levels as a means of solving conflicts.
“I urge the University community to endeavor to be a prime example of peaceful dialogue and solutions as opposed to violence and industrial action. I appeal to you all to uphold personal and institutional integrity and to treat one another with respect, humility and dignity,” he said.
The Makerere University Chancellor Ezra Suruma congratulated the graduands upon reaching another milestone in their academic journey. He applauded students for the spirit of endurance, hard work, commitment, disciplines and self control that had enabled them to achieve their desired academic success.
“The degrees we are awarding you today testify to the hardships, the discipline, the commitment, the pain and the tears you have shed over the years and decades of academic struggle. Your graduation testifies to the world that in the face of all adversity, poverty, deprivation, doubt and danger, you possessed the determination to strive on, to rise after the fall and today you are counted among the survivors, the heroes of intellectual battles,” he said.
The Chancellor thanked Makerere University Management, staff and University community for the incredible guidance the institution has offered to students through the complexities of the academic life. He thanked the parents, relatives, religious leaders and friends for the social, emotional and financial support they have contentiously extended to their students during their struggle of success.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu congratulated the graduands upon joining the prestigious list of hardworking men and women who are proud Makerere University alumni. In a special way, he also congratulated all Members of Staff who took up the initiative and upgraded their academic experience.
Through the Prime Minister, the Vice Chancellor expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government for the support it extends to Makerere University, especially through the parent Ministry of Education and Sports. Furthermore, he thanked the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni for her support and guidance to Makerere University which has fostered a strong working relationship with the University Leadership.
Speaking about Makerere University as a centre of excellence with a host research activities and innovations, the Vice Chancellor congratulated all staff and students whose brilliant innovations had excelled at local and international levels “thank you for keeping Makerere University visible. Because of your hard work, Makerere University, according to the Times Higher Education, is ranked number three (3) on the African Continent in terms of research output and publication.”
“Mr. Chancellor Sir, one cannot talk about a University without Professors. In academia, promotion to the rank of Professor is a testimony to knowledge generation and expertise in one’s chosen academic discipline. I am therefore pleased to report that since the last Graduation Ceremony, 8 Members of Staff have been promoted to the Rank of Professor while 19 have risen to the rank of Associate Professor. I congratulate you upon this great achievement, he said.
“I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, for his commitment to the salary enhancement of Professors up to the tune of UGX 15 million. I am positive that the number of Professors is going to increase when the salary reaches UGX 15 million, he added
At the same function, the Makerere University Convocation together with the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) awarded the best female and male students in teachers’ education. The Chancellor and the Prime Minister handed over the awards to Ms. Nanyanzi Claire and Mr. Twinomugisha Bruce. The two students received a certificate and a cash prize of 500,000 Ugandan shillings each.
Guests of the 67th Graduation Ceremony were entertained by the Department of Performing Arts and Film led by their Head; Associate Professor Sylvia Antonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza.
Article by Public Relations Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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