Some of the 43 Phd Graduands from the College of Education and External Studies and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences after receiving their awards at the second session of #Mak71stGrad held in the Freedom Square on 18th May 2021.
The second session of the 71st Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University held on Tuesday 18th May 2021 has produced a record 44 PhD graduates, the highest to ever be conferred upon their awards in a single session. The Chancellor Professor Ezra Suruma conferred 23 and 21 PhDs upon candidates from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) respectively.
In his congratulatory remarks, the Chancellor noted that although agriculture is indispensable to our survival as a nation, a lot remains to be done to improve agricultural productivity and marketing. He urged graduands to embrace the parish model which is currently being popularized by the Government so as to increase agricultural productivity and improve the overall management of the agricultural, infrastructural and financial sectors at the grass root level.
“I pray that the students and researchers in agriculture, education, financial services, agricultural processing, storage and infrastructure will come alive and take advantage of this opportunity to rescue our economy from poverty and stagnation. The challenge is to you and me to go to our parish, our roots and make a difference” urged Prof. Suruma.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe had thanked the Chancellor for coining the parish development model and urged graduands not to shy away from getting their hands dirty. “That is what has made the farmers of Israel, from where many of our students return with thousands of dollars after working on their farms, millionaires.”
The Vice Chancellor noted that graduands from CEES had embraced one of the noblest professions and urged them to serve with diligence if they were to succeed.
“Teaching is a calling and only those with the passion to enlighten society choose this noble profession. Our joy is in seeing the many successful people who go through our hands. Money has never been the motivating force behind our passion, but the desire to serve and improve society” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Recognized during the second session were three first class graduands of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) and one beneficiary of the Female Scholarship Foundation (FSF) supported by the Chinese Embassy in Uganda.
MCFSP beneficiaries Mr. Oyo Timothy-B.A with Education, Ms. Agaba Viola-B.A with Education and Mr. Mukasa Arthur-BSc. with Education scored CGPAs of 4.59, 4.45 and 4.41 respectively. FSF beneficiary Mr. Opendo Thomas-BSc. in Agricultural and Rural Innovation scored a CGPA of 4.57.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Successful appeals and supplementary lists. Below is a list arising from appeals of Government Sponsored candidates who have been admitted:
Makerere University and DFCU Bank have today signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster innovation, student leadership, research and community impact initiatives.
The collaboration which will see the equipping of the Disability Support center for students living with disabilities through the MAK run and more leadership trainings for students will begin this July.
“The MoU will strengthen research collaborations across sectors like agriculture and health and it will also support the Mutebile Centre to assist private sector growth, which is crucial in lifting Africa out of poverty,” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (R) flanked by Mr. Charles Mudiwa (L) makes his remarks at the MoU signing ceremony.
Speaking during the event, Mr. Charles M. Mudiwa, the DFCU Bank Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the move, noting its alignment with the bank’s mission to transform lives and support national development through four pillars: funding, financial inclusion, enterprise development, and vocational education.
“This MoU crowns years of effort and shared intent between our institutions,” he stated. Mr. Mudiwa highlighted the bank’s commitment to skilling youth through internships, curriculum development, and support for innovation hubs and centres of excellence at the university. “We consume the graduates of Makerere. In our most recent graduate intake of 87, 60% were Makerere alumni. The bank allocates around 30 internship positions annually to equip young people with the skills necessary for future roles within the institution,” Mr. Mudiwa, noted.
Representing the student body, Guild President His Excellency, Sentamu Churchill James, commended the partnership as a timely intervention that will empower youth, support SMEs, and expand internship and leadership development opportunities.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd L) presents a framed portrait of the Main Building to Mr. Charles Mudiwa (C) as L-R: University Secretary-Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, 91st Guild President-H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta witness.
“Students are the heartbeat of the university. This collaboration will empower youth and strengthen their role in national development,” His Excellency Ssentamu, said.
About MAK RUN 2025
The Makerere Run 2025 (#MakRun2025), hosted by the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MAKEF) on 17th August 2025, returns for its fifth edition as Kampala’s premier charity marathon, uniting 8,000+ runners—students, alumni, corporate teams, and elite athletes—to tackle the city’s iconic hills under the theme “Run the Hills for the Future.” This landmark event combines competitive racing with transformative impact, channeling proceeds to strengthen Makerere University’s community programs while offering unmatched branding opportunities for partners through Kampala’s largest university-led sporting spectacle.
The Mak Run, scheduled this year for August 17th, is a flagship initiative that mobilizes students, staff, alumni, and partners to raise funds for projects such as the Disability Support Unit and the Student Centre.