On Friday 27^th May 2022, The College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) presented students to the Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Ezra Suruma for graduation.  The event which was the 5th and last session of the 72^nd Graduation ceremony saw the award of outstanding students who graduated with First Class Honors degrees.

The Plagues were handed over by the Chancellor of Makerere University Professor Ezra Suruma in line with the culture of the college that recognizes the academically outstanding students.

The awardees included Mr. Musinguzi Denis, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, who got a First Class Honors degree with a CGPA of 4.74. In second position was Ms.  Asiimwe Vanessa Elina, Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying offered in the School of Built Environment who got a First Class Honors Degree with a CGPA of 4.69.   Mr.  Ssempala Joseph as the best student from Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, First Class Honors Degree with a CGPA of 4.67

The Principal of the College Prof. Henry Alinaitwe presented graduands who graduated with PhDs and thanked God for serving Makerere University in two capacities  as the Principal College Engineering, Design, Art and Technology and Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration.  He congratulated CEDAT staff that graduated with PhDs namely Dr. Brian Makabayi, Dr. Sarah Nakisanze and Dr. Allan Mazimwe.

The Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Ezra Suruma while addressing the congregation comprised of graduands and their parents and guardians, the members of the University council and invited guests extended his appreciation to the administration and academic staff for their input into the processes that led to the graduation. To Government, development partners and other stakeholders he applauded their tremendous contribution to the growth of the University more so at the time of celebrating 100 years.

While addressing the graduands, Prof. Suruma said the word out there was filled with a number of challenges citing the war between Russia and Ukraine that has affected the economic stand of the country which calls for new solutions for survival by being more aggressive and creative.

While citing the example of the Uganda Martyrs, the Chancellor said these made a stand for what they believed and paid with their lives. ‘As long as the challenges of poverty and injustice remain, we have no choice but to struggle for solutions for survival in our world’, he counseled the graduands.

The Vice Chancellor Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted that the University was able to said through and graduate her students despite the challenges that arose in the onset of Covid- 19 and the subsequent closures.  He commended the University Council for the support and guidance that enabled the university to push through and minimize the time lost.

Prof. Nawangwe said  Makerere University has continued to grow her research capacity in line with the strategic plan (2020-2030) which seeks Makerere to be a fully research led university, and boasted of the increased number of academic staff holding Ph.Ds. making Makerere 2^nd best in Africa in research.

While addressing himself about the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, Prof Nawangwe informed that gathering of some of the developments that made the University proud. He said that on July 21^st, 2021 The University commissioned a state-of-the-art Scanning Electronic Microscope that was installed at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology. The equipment, procured by the government at Shs 2.6 billion will help researchers undertake studies and investigations in Materials, Nanotechnology, drug analysis, forensics, and biomedical engineering, among other things. The Equipment was procured under the Presidential Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE) and was received under the Africa Center of Excellence in Materials Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO ACE). The Microscope is used in the analysis of materials for the production of medicine, vaccines, forensic examinations from crime and accident scenes, and gene analysis among many others.

Further, he said, the College of Engineering, Design Art, and Technology continues to offer professional guidance and support to the University. Led by Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal, the College helped in redesigning the Main Administration Building of the University whose construction has started. He said some Architecture 4^th-year students came up with structural designs for the expansion and improvement of Makerere University Hospital and that although this was part of their study, the designs were very much appreciated.

Makerere University will demonstrate its interest in the preservation and promotion of Uganda’s cultural, social, and political heritage with the opening of the Muteesa II Memorial Museum at the end of June 2022. The Museum will not only contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in Uganda but will also help celebrate the life and time of Ssekabaka Muteesa II as an alumnus of Makerere University, Kabaka, and President of the Republic of Uganda.

Prof. Nawangwe urged the graduands to put to good use the knowledge received to change communities, the country and humanity. He informed graduands that the transcripts for graduands on 4 and 5-year programmers were ready for picking the following week and for those on 3-year programmers, would be ready for picking beginning the second week of June 2022.

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