Makerere University Convocation has honored Mubiru Enock Joel with an award in recognition of his outstanding academic performance. Mubiru, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, scored a CGPA of 4.91, making him the best student in the sciences at Makerere University this year. The award, which included a plaque and a cheque of UGX1 million, was presented to him by the Chair of the Convocation on January 14, 2025, the second day of the 75^th graduation ceremony.

Overall, the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) presented 310 students for the award of degrees of Makerere University at the 75^th graduation ceremony.  Of these, 14 graduated with PhD (5 female 9 male), 36 MSc (10 female and 26 male) and 260 BSc (113 female and 147 male).

In the course of the 75th graduation ceremony that started on 13th January and will end on 17th January 2025, a total of 13,662 graduands will receive degrees and diplomas of Makerere University.

 Of these, 143 will graduate with PhDs, 1,813 with Masters degrees, 11,454 with Bachelor’s degrees and 243 with postgraduate diplomas. 53 % of the graduands are female and 47% are male. 44% of the PhD graduands are female. A total of 491 graduands will receive first class degrees. 16% of the students will be graduating with post-graduate degrees and diplomas.

Chancellor’s Address

In his address, Makerere University Chancellor Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga congratulated the graduands on their success and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the lecturers, administrators, parents, and guardians. He emphasized that the success of the university is a collective effort, appreciating the faculty and University Council for their critical roles in delivering quality education.

Dr. Kiyonga also extended his gratitude to the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, and the NRM government for their invaluable financial support to Makerere University. The Government has so far allocated UGX30 billion to Makerere University through the Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).

Looking to the future, Dr. Kiyonga encouraged the University to increase its outreach programmes, particularly in the agricultural sector. He proposed collaborations with medium- to large-scale farmers, where students could gain hands-on experience while also assisting farmers in local communities. He also advocated for stronger partnerships with the private sector to support the commercialization of innovations emerging from Makerere University.

Furthermore, the Chancellor highlighted the President’s directive to teach Political Economy to all university students. He stressed the importance of transforming Africa through the strategic utilization of its resources and emphasized the value of political economy knowledge in this process.

Vice Chancellor’s Address

In his remarks, Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated the graduands and expressed deep appreciation for the unwavering commitment of the teaching staff, administrators, parents, and guardians. He also welcomed the Chancellor, Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga, emphasizing that his vast experience would be an asset to the institution.

Prof. Nawangwe acknowledged the College of Natural Sciences for providing foundational training for all the other science-based disciplines at the University. He also commended the College for its ground-breaking research and contribution to the development of mathematics in the region. “The College of Natural Sciences is unique because it handles all the foundation disciplines for all the other science-based disciplines. But apart from the basic sciences, the College provides training and conducts research in critical applied science disciplines, including geology and petroleum studies, industrial chemistry, and others. The College is central in the development of mathematics in the East and Central Africa region and it has also taken the initiative to investigate the problem of poor performance in biology by secondary school students,” the Vice Chancellor noted.

He encouraged the graduands to seize every opportunity and to consider starting their own enterprises, using the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their studies. “Do not despair if you cannot find employment. Instead, reflect on the immense opportunities around you and consider entrepreneurship as a path to success,” he urged.

Message from the Minister of Education and Sports

On behalf of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Minister of State for Primary Education, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, congratulated the graduates and thanked the university for its commitment to excellence in education and research. She emphasized the transformative power of higher education and praised Makerere University for its contribution to the nation’s development.

She also expressed gratitude to the parents and guardians, acknowledging their critical role in the success of the students. “Your support has played an integral part in making this achievement possible,” she said.

Commencement lecture by Prof. Puleng LenkaBula

In her commencement lecture, Prof. Puleng LenkaBula, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa, expressed gratitude for the support that Makerere University and Uganda provided in the fight against apartheid. She encouraged the graduands to use the knowledge acquired to address the continent’s challenges, particularly in the transformation of Africa and the empowerment of women. Prof. LenkaBula called for greater collaboration among African intellectuals to create a better future for the continent, particularly through research that directly benefits communities.

Research Excellence and Teacher Recognition

At the ceremony, Makerere University recognized outstanding researchers and educators from CoNAS. The Senior Researcher Award was presented to Assoc. Prof. Juma Kasozi (Department of Mathematics), Assoc. Prof. Charles Masembe (Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences), and Dr. Jamilu Ssenku (Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology). The Mid-Career Researcher Award went to Dr. Julius Mulindwa (Department of Biochemistry), Dr. Patience Tugume (Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology), and Dr. Patrick Ssebugere (Department of Chemistry), while Dr. Omara Timothy (Department of Chemistry), Dr. Mukiibi Ssewannyaga Ivan (Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies), and Dr. Sadik Mustafa Abubakar (Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology) were recognized as the best Early Career Researchers. In addition, Prof. Ann Akol (Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences), Dr. Sadik Mustafa Abubakar, and Dr. Kalega Peggy (Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies) were honoured as the best teachers of the year from CoNAS.

Transcripts and Certificates

Graduates who participated in today’s ceremony can collect their transcripts from their respective colleges.

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Mubiru Enock Joel, a student from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), is set to be among the thousands of graduates at Makerere University’s 75^th graduation ceremony, scheduled for January 13–17, 2025. He will graduate on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, as the top-performing student in the sciences.

Early Life and Education Journey

Born in 2001 to Mr. Nsubuga Francis and Ms. Nambejja Lydia of Luwafu, Makindye Division, Kampala District, Mubiru’s educational journey began at Canan Primary School in Makindye. He then attended Kabale Ssanje Secondary School in Kyotera District, where he completed his O’ and A’ Level education. At A’ Level, Mubiru excelled in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, earning an impressive 17 points. This achievement secured him a government scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics at Makerere University.

Despite coming from a humble background, Mubiru’s determination to succeed never wavered. His academic excellence earned him various bursaries, which relieved his parents from the financial burden of school fees. In fact, his parents stopped paying fees when he was in lower primary, as his academic performance ensured he remained well-supported.

Academic Achievements

Mubiru will graduate with a remarkable CGPA of 4.91 in his Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Physics) degree, making him the top-performing student in the sciences at Makerere University this year. His dedication and hard work have paid off, placing him at the forefront of his cohort.

He attributes much of his success to the mentorship and guidance he received from his lecturers, particularly Dr. Saul Nsubuga, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at CoNAS. Dr. Nsubuga played a pivotal role in Mubiru’s academic and personal growth, providing valuable mentorship and treating him like a son. Dr. Nsubuga also connected him to various opportunities, including his current role at Xeno Investment, where Mubiru has been working as an Operations Analyst since completing his studies in June 2024. In addition, Mubiru offers mathematics tutorials to students from countries such as Uganda, the USA, Italy, and Northern Cyprus.

Gratitude and Future Goals

Mubiru is deeply grateful to his parents for their unwavering support throughout his academic journey. He also expresses his appreciation for the management of CoNAS and Makerere University for creating an environment that facilitated his academic success.

Looking ahead, Mubiru’s immediate goal is to pursue a Master’s degree and a PhD in Mathematics. In the long term, he aims to teach mathematics at various educational levels. Given the dynamic nature of the data science industry, he also hopes to establish one of the most prominent data analytics firms in Uganda.

Advice for Fellow Students

Mubiru believes that excelling in any field requires focus and commitment. Throughout his undergraduate studies, he always set out to be the best, and his efforts have been recognized. His success tips include actively engaging in discussions, regularly consulting with teachers, and dedicating sufficient time to revision. He encourages fellow students at Makerere University to focus from their first year and to actively participate in academic discussions if they aspire to excel.

Appeal for Improved Infrastructure

Given the large number of students at the university, Mubiru appeals to the University Management to invest in improving the learning infrastructure to further support the academic success of all students.

We congratulate Mubiru upon this great success and wish him the best in his future endeavours.

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Click on this link to register: https://was.org/meeting/code/afraq25

• WORLD AQUACULTURE SAFARI 2025: Biggest Aquaculture Meeting in Africa
• Date: 24^th-27^th June 2025
• Venue: Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda

*****About the Conference

East Africa is the fastest growth node for aquaculture on the African continent. This is predominantly as a result of the farming of tilapia, but several other species contribute to the sector. East Africa is also a world leading region in the farming of seaweed, with exciting developments around several other marine species such as sea cucumber and more.

The EU-funded TRUEFISH Project, which seeks the advancement of aquaculture in the Lake Victoria Basin, showcased the region to the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) Board in 2022, which was well accepted and led to the pinning down of June 2025 as a suitable date for an aquaculture conference in the region. This in turn led to the signing of a hosting agreement between WAS and Landell Mills as an implementing partner of TRUEFISH.

Through Egypt (2022), Zambia (2023) and Tunisia (2024), the African Regional Aquaculture (AFRAQ) Conferences have shown steady growth. It is however important to emphasize that Aquaculture Safari 2025 is a World Aquaculture Conference, incorporating both the continental event and the showcase global event. Undoubtedly, it will address key African topics such as tilapia and catfish production, but the conference will cater to a global audience covering a diverse range of presentations, species, meetings, discussions, workshops and more. Commitments of participation have been received from the likes of the FAO, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the African Union and others.  The trade show and exhibition promises to assemble the largest selection of aquaculture goods and service providers under one roof, in Africa, to date.

*****Theme and aim of the Conference

Organized under the theme “Aquaculture on the Rise,” World Aquaculture Safari 2025 aims to:

1. Showcase the aquaculture industry in Africa and globally
2. Forge international collaborations and linkages, in areas such as research, development, species sectors, feeds, investments, markets, trade and more.
3. Unify the global aquaculture sector.

*****Expected participants and activities lined up for the Conference

Participants will range from academia to state officials, from technology providers to students, from farmers to fish buyers and exporters, and more. Apart from papers from across the world, plans are also afoot for an extensive farmer’s day, several side events such as aquaculture investment and seaweed workshops, and a field day to visit some of the largest fish farms on Lake Victoria. African countries will also showcase their aquaculture sectors in the trade show, allowing for global networking.

For international visitors the tourism opportunities before and after the conference are limitless. These include trekking for gorillas and chimpanzees (get your permits early!), visiting some of Africa’s famous Big Five game reserves in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, visiting or rafting the Nile River, witnessing the majestic Murchison Falls, seeing Mount Kilimanjaro or experiencing the tropical seas of Zanzibar.

Africa awaits its international aquaculture guests with excitement. Details loading soon. Registration will also open soon on the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) website – https://www.was.org/.

For details on World Aquaculture Safari 2025: https://www.was.org/Magazine/2024/04/38/ 

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