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
General
Are We Giving Enough Attention to the People Around Us Who Quietly Influence Lives Every Day?
By Marion Apio
On March 21, 2026, I felt a strong urge to reconnect with a close colleague and passionate leader, Owekitinisa Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki. We had not spoken since I moved to the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist. The following day, I learned that he had been quietly undergoing treatment in and out of the hospital. True to his character, he had chosen to keep his condition private. I was shocked and saddened, wishing I had known earlier so I could offer support.
At first, reports from family and friends were encouraging. He had been diagnosed with malaria and low blood platelet counts and was receiving treatment. Respecting his wish for confidentiality, members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community at Makerere University rallied discreetly around him.
However, on April 29, his condition worsened. He was transferred between medical facilities and underwent extensive tests, including a biopsy, as doctors searched for answers. Sadly, on May 29, Sylas passed away.
His death sparked an extraordinary outpouring of love and solidarity. Friends, colleagues, and former scholars mobilised to support his family, settle medical expenses, organise virtual vigils, and plan a dignified farewell. Hundreds gathered at St. Augustine Chapel to pay their respects. Within three days, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community raised approximately UGX 11 million, a testament to Sylas’ impact on countless lives.
In the days that followed, I found myself wrestling with difficult questions. In a world where we spend so much time following people online, are we paying enough attention to those quietly transforming lives around us? Why do we invest so much emotional energy in distant personalities while overlooking the people God has placed right in front of us?
Sylas lived with humility and served with grace. His death left more than 1,500 Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni grieving, alongside many others around the world who knew him. Yet his passing also exposed a contradiction in modern life.
We live in an age of unprecedented connectivity. Uganda has millions of internet users and WhatsApp subscribers, while globally, people spend hours each day on social media. We have more tools than ever to stay connected, yet many of us are becoming increasingly disconnected from the people who matter most.
Sylas resisted this trend. Through mentorship, service, and community-building, he remained deeply present in others’ lives. While many people retreat into individual pursuits, he consistently chose connection.
This challenge is especially relevant for Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni. Every year, young Africans leave home to pursue education and professional opportunities abroad. Distance, time zones, visa restrictions, and rising travel costs make it difficult to maintain relationships and remain actively involved in the communities that helped shape us.
For Sylas, the answer was simple: show up. Celebrate others. Offer support. Stay connected.
He never allowed geographical or personal barriers to become excuses for disengagement. Even while facing his own struggles, he invested in others. He embodied the values the Mastercard Foundation seeks to cultivate—ethical leadership, service, and community empowerment.
Sylas did not wait for a perfect platform to create change. He simply served where he was. He helped build bridges between education, culture, and professional development while remaining grounded in his values. He dreamed of creating a stronger alumni ecosystem and brought both passion and compassion to every initiative he touched.
Since his passing, social media has been filled with memories of his infectious smile and unwavering commitment to others. Those tributes reveal an important truth: people gave generously because Sylas had first given himself generously to them. People from different backgrounds, generations, and communities showed up because he had spent his life showing up for them. His legacy now challenges all of us.
The greatest tribute we can offer is not simply to mourn his loss but to continue his work. That means supporting the causes he cared about, helping the children whose education he championed, strengthening alumni networks, and pursuing the dreams we discussed with him.
The tragedy of modern life is not that we follow people online. It is that too often our attention to distant lives comes at the expense of meaningful relationships nearby. Yet strong relationships are as essential to our well-being as physical health.
As Ugandans, we take pride in our faith, culture, and sense of community. We contribute to fundraisers, attend ceremonies, and support family members in times of need. But increasingly, genuine connection is being replaced by passive digital interaction. Families and communities cannot thrive on likes, retweets, and emojis alone.
They require presence—phone calls, visits, conversations, and the willingness to notice when someone is struggling.
Before spending another hour immersed in the lives of strangers online, look around. Call the friend you have not spoken to in years. Check on a family member. Reach out to a colleague who seems withdrawn. Communities are not built by algorithms or celebrities. They are built by ordinary people who choose, day after day, to care for those within their reach.
Uganda needs more people like Sylas. At just 32 years old, he achieved what many spend a lifetime striving for. He served as Minister of Information in the Toro Kingdom and as President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Association in Uganda. More importantly, he dedicated himself to serving others.
While his death is deeply painful, his life remains a powerful example of how we should live. My prayers and condolences go to his family, friends, and the entire Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community.
Rest in perfect peace, Owek. Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki.
The author is a Mastercard Foundation Alumna from Makerere University and the University of California, Berkeley. She is a journalist based in Southern California and the CEO of the Debunk Media Initiative.
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