General
Mak 69th Graduation Ends with Emphasis on Moral Integrity and Discipline
The curtains came down on the fourth and final session of the 69th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University held on Friday, 18th January 2019, after the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma conferred degrees and awarded diplomas to graduands from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) and the School of Law (LAW). Notable among the graduands were; the former Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda Steven Kavuma; who graduated with a Degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies, Deputy Police Spokesperson, Polly Namaye; with a Degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication, former Member of Parliament for Rubaga South Division Hon. John Ken Lukyamuzi; with the Bachelor of Laws and 14 pioneer students of the Master of Arts in Defence and Security Studies.
The Chancellor congratulated all graduands upon reaching the important milestone in their academic journey. He also thanked the leadership and staff of Makerere University for the great work in training the wide range of professionals in the humanities and social sciences, law, engineering, architecture, medicine, fine art and design.
“I am sure you will all agree with me that it takes a great deal of effort and time to train and graduate over 13,000 graduands including PhDs and Masters Degrees. You have done excellently to prepare these students,” said Prof Suruma.
He called upon staff, students and the entire community of Makerere to be of high moral integrity. According to Prof. Suruma, if the meaning and value of education is to endure, then the record of each and every student must be an accurate and a true reflection of his or her actual performance.
“It is simply unacceptable to compromise on the moral integrity of the university. Anyone who participates in any way in falsifying the academic records of the university is an enemy and must be treated as such,’ he said.
He urged students, parents, faculty, alumni, government, media and the public at large to fight all forms of fraud, falsification and immorality in the university.
“My late brother, Dr. Livingstone Byarugaba used to ask me: ‘Do you need a torch to see the sun?’ Now I beg to ask you my brothers and sisters, do we need to be reminded that every time we push for a false mark or grade for a child or student who is not qualified, we are hurting ourselves? Who benefits when we increase or multiply unqualified doctors, pharmacists, teachers, engineers and pilots in the society?” asked the Chancellor.
He appealed to every Ugandan to take a stand and fight for the good of the country when he said, “wherever you find yourself, take a stand for what is right. Be a candle in the darkness and save our country for our children and our grandchildren. Charity begins at home. Education without integrity will not protect you and it will not protect Uganda. It will continue to kill and the future will get worse. Once our enemies realize our internal weaknesses it will not take them long to destroy us.”
He applauded the Vice Chancellor, Management and the ceremonies committee for the successful preparations for the 69th Graduation Ceremony.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, reiterated the need for staff and students to observe discipline in the university. According to Prof Nawangwe, the biggest obstacle to Africa’s development is indiscipline of the country’s elite.
“I wish to thank H.E. the President, the First Lady and Hon. Minister of Education and Sports and the members of the public for their support of the measures taken by Council and Management to improve discipline among students and members of staff at Makerere University. No University can fully utilize her potential in an environment where indiscipline, abuse and impunity prevail,” he remarked.
To the graduands Prof. Nawangwe said, “as you leave the gates of Makerere University, remember that you are now on your own. You will succeed in life if you put a few ideals ahead of you. These are self-discipline, respect for self and others, love for your Country and love for God. The opportunities out there are immense, but only the disciplined will find them.”
He reminded graduands to take note of the President’s pledge to support organized groups of graduates with seed funding to start businesses. He also unveiled his idea of establishing a Makerere University Student Employment Liaison Desk in the Office of the Vice Chancellor. This Desk, he said, will coordinate employment opportunities for students within and outside the University.
“The Country is yearning for jobs for our young people and everybody will be looking at you to prove the worth of your education. With a Makerere degree, you have no right not to succeed. The World is yours for the taking and it is only you to deny yourself of the opportunities out there,” he said.
Article by: Mak Public Relations Office
Makerere University staff have been urged to embrace servant leadership, integrity and compassion as they prepare to welcome students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
The call was made during the Makerere University Staff Prayer Breakfast held on 31st July 2026 at St. Francis Students Centre Upper Hall under the theme “Faithful Stewards: A Servant Heart with Integrity and Wisdom,” drawn from Colossians 3:23–24 and Mark 10:35–45.
The prayer breakfast brought together members of Council, University Management, academic, and administrative staff to dedicate the new academic year to God while reflecting on their responsibility of serving students with excellence, humility and integrity.
A Call to Seek God’s Wisdom
Host Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa reminded staff that no amount of professional experience or academic expertise can replace God’s guidance.
She noted that the University’s mission can only be fulfilled when staff continually seek God’s wisdom in serving students and one another.
“There is no amount of experience or expertise that can replace God’s wisdom.”
Rev. Dr. Kitayimbwa observed that students remain the reason universities exist and challenged staff to approach their work as a calling rather than merely employment.
“Without students, there is no university,” she said, encouraging members of staff to remain united, avoid unhealthy competition and trust God as they begin another academic year.
She further urged staff to become faithful stewards who work together in harmony, which she summed up as, “United we stand; divided we fall.”
A Community, Not Just a Centre of Research
In her remarks, Dean of Students Dr. Winnie Kabumbuli welcomed the Council Chairperson, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Members of Management to the breakfast, and reminded staff that a university’s value cannot be measured by research and innovation alone.
She described Makerere as a community held together by the spiritual as well as academic wellbeing of its people, and called on staff to renew their commitment to one another as much as to the institution they serve.
Draw Inspiration From Stewardship
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Sarah Ssali told staff that this year’s breakfast carried special significance.
“This is the first prayer breakfast we are having ever since we launched our strategic plan,” she said, referring to the University’s new Strategic Plan, launched on 2nd July 2026.
She encouraged staff to hold on to the morning’s reflections as a guide for implementing the plan over the next five years, describing Makerere as an institution many families choose above all others for the vision and training it offers their children. She urged staff to see themselves as stewards of that trust rather than simply employees carrying out a job.
Compassion and Discipline Must Go Together
Delivering her remarks, Makerere University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara challenged staff to strike a balance between compassion and discipline when dealing with students.
She observed that many students face different personal and academic challenges, making encouragement and timely support essential throughout their university journey.
“A word of encouragement can restore hope and prevent costly mistakes,” she noted.
Dr. Lorna encouraged lecturers and administrators to respond promptly to students’ concerns, explaining that delays, insensitive decisions and abuse of authority can discourage students and negatively affect their academic experience.
She reminded staff that students often remember how they were treated long after they have forgotten what was taught in class.
“Students may eventually forget what we teach them, but they will always remember how we treated them.”
She added that education goes beyond transferring knowledge.
“Education is more than knowledge. We communicate life, character and values.”
Quoting Mark 10, Dr. Lorna called upon staff to embrace servant leadership by exercising authority with humility, integrity and accountability.
She encouraged members of staff to ask themselves whether they would treat every student the same way ashey would treat their own child.
“We may not always have all the answers,” she said, “but we can communicate honestly, take responsibility and treat every student with dignity.”
She concluded by urging different colleges and administrative units to work together instead of operating in isolation, noting that unity strengthens the University community.
Referring to Galatians 6:2, she reminded staff to carry one another’s burdens and remain faithful stewards of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Servant Leadership Begins with Faithfulness
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. James Magara, husband to Dr. Lorna Magara, called on members of staff to embrace servant leadership grounded in humility, faithfulness and service to others.
Drawing from Mark 10:35–45, Dr. Magara reflected on the account in which James and John asked Jesus for positions of honour in His kingdom, prompting discontent among the other disciples. He observed that despite walking closely with Christ, the disciples continued to struggle with the desire for status and recognition. He noted that such competition remained evident even during the Last Supper, where concerns over positions and prominence persisted.
Dr. Magara said that Jesus responded to these human tendencies by redefining leadership through service rather than authority. He described Christ’s act of washing the disciples’ feet as the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, explaining that genuine leaders are willing to undertake even the humblest responsibilities in service of others.
Referencing Philippians 2, he urged staff to emulate Christ’s humility and selflessness, contrasting it with the pride and self-exaltation illustrated in Isaiah 14. He emphasised that lasting influence and greatness are not measured by titles, positions or recognition, but by one’s willingness to serve faithfully and put the needs of others before personal ambition.
Drawing on his own leadership journey spanning several decades, Dr. Magara challenged leaders across the University to cultivate humility, integrity and a servant heart in the execution of their responsibilities. He cautioned that leadership driven by pride and personal ambition undermines both individual effectiveness and institutional progress, whereas servant leadership strengthens organisations and fosters lasting impact.
The prayer breakfast concluded with a call for unity and collective commitment as Makerere University prepares to begin a new academic year. Organisers noted that the reflections on stewardship, integrity and servant leadership would provide a strong foundation for the University community as it advances the implementation of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
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