Natural Sciences
73rd Graduation Ceremony – CoNAS Presents 275 students
The Vice Chancellor of the University of London, Prof. Wendy Thomson has emphasized the role of higher education in shaping individuals and societies. “Makerere University and the University of London have tens of thousands of talented graduates now contributing to social and economic development and tackling global challenges both at home and around the world, in areas that include education, health, law, business, technology and a range of fields critical to sustainable development,” she noted while delivering her Commencement Lecture on the first day of the 73rd graduation ceremony, 13th February 2023. Citing the UN Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 that proclaimed the right to education, directed to the full development of the human personality, the strengthening of respect for human rights, the promotion of global citizenship, and sustenance of the global commons, Prof. Thomson said strengthening higher education would greatly transform nation states across the globe. “The University of London is scoping deeper engagement with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) in its mission to expand doctoral education and build research capacity to address key challenges including health, education, climate, natural resources and deep social and economic questions of equality and sustainability. We know that graduates of ARUA institutions – including our own graduates across Africa are key to long-term sustainable development,” she said.
Visiting Uganda and Makerere for the first time, Prof. Thomson noted that it was a great opportunity for the two Universities to renew their historical ties and strengthen collaboration. “At a time when Makerere has reached its centenary, this is a splendid opportunity for both institutions to reflect upon our special relationship and look to a future collaboration,” she said. The relationship between the two institutions dates back to 1949 when Makerere became a university college affiliated to the University College of London. With the establishment of the University of East Africa on 29th June 1963, the special relationship with the University of London came to a close and degrees of the University of East Africa were instituted. On July 1, 1970, Makerere became an independent national university of the Republic of Uganda, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses leading to its own awards.
Prof. Thomson congratulated the graduands upon the ‘very important milestone’ given the challenges placed on study and health care services during the pandemic. “I would also like to express my recognition and respect to your family and friends who have supported you through your studies to reach this joyful moment. I have a daughter who has just begun university in England, and I appreciate the financial and emotional calls that are made on parents and families during a university education.”
Graduation statistics
Three Colleges presented students for the award of degrees and diplomas on the first day of the 73rd graduation ceremony of Makerere University. These include; the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the School of Law. CoNAS presented 275 graduands, 84 female and 192 male. Of these, 7 graduated with PhDs (3 female, 4 male), 38 with MSc (7 female, 31 male) and 130 with BSc (74 female, 156 male). The PhD graduates include; Dr Samuel Ojelel, Head, Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology; Kajumba Pamella Katalihwa (Department of Physics), Mukalazi Hebert (Department of Mathematics), Nayebare Gumoteyo Jacintha (Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies); Okello Alex (Department of Physics); Kimuli Philly Ivan; and Nankinga Loy (Department of Mathematics).
A total of 13,209 students will be awarded degrees and diplomas of Makerere University during the 73rd graduation ceremony that ends on Friday, 17th February 2023. Of these, 6803 (52%) are female and 6406 (48%) male.
Remarks by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports
In her remarks, the Minister of Education and Sports. Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni who attended the ceremony virtually congratulated the graduands and appreciated the parents and guardians for the sacrifices made to ensure their children acquire quality education. She equally appreciated the faculty of Makerere for committing time to educate the students. The Minister applauded the University Council for the new strategy that seeks to increase graduate students at Makerere and pledged more government support towards research. She challenged the incoming members of Council and the University Management to work out plans to equip students with skills to fight moral decadency in society, focusing on the fight against HIV/AIDS and corruption. “Each individual life has a purpose and if that purpose is not discovered, life becomes meaningless. Do what it takes to prepare students with integrity and humility to enable them fulfil God’s given purpose,” she advised. She urged the graduands to use the skills acquired at the University to develop the country.
Remarks by the Chancellor
The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma congratulated the students for successfully completing their respective programmes of study and research. “One of my favorite quotations is from the Gospel of John chapter 17. Jesus is praying to God and He says: I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (John17:4)NIV. This implies that finishing the task God has given us to do brings glory to God and to us. So by accomplishing what brought you to Makerere University, you have brought glory to God, to your parents, to your supporters and to your country.”
He paid special tribute to members of staff for the excellent work done to prepare the graduands. “Despite the severe challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to both staff and students, they persevered and today marks your successful victory over all these challenges. The university leadership and teachers as well as the graduands deserve our gratitude for a job very well done.” He also appreciated the parents, guardians and sponsors for supporting the students.
Prof. Suruma thanked the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni for the unwavering support to the University. “At a time when the national budget is very tight you have ensured that Makerere University continues to receive the financial support it needs to maintain and even surpass its record of excellence in education and research. We appreciate you for being exemplary as a mother, a guardian and a true champion of morality in Uganda’s education sector. Together with His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni you have persistently supported Makerere University in particular and the Education Sector in general. We thank you very much for taking the time to celebrate Makerere University’s 73rd Graduation Ceremony with us.”
The Chancellor thanked the University Council, under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Lorna Magara for putting in place the right policies and controls to guide and steer the Institution. He commended the University Management under the leadership of Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for ensuring that the policies are successfully implemented.
He encouraged the graduands to remain hopeful even in the midst of affliction. “Worry and anxiety come to all of us, although they don’t improve anything. But faith and trust in God has worked miracles for me. I sincerely encourage you to trust in God. The God who has enabled you to survive COVID and to complete your programme here at Makerere is alive and real.”
Remarks by the Vice Chancellor
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe appreciated the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and First Lady, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni for the support that led to the creation of the Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) in the 2019/2020 financial year with initial funding of UGX 30 Billion. “The Research and Innovation Fund has transformed Makerere tremendously, with very many innovations in agriculture and food security, health, engineering, education, and the social sciences that are already changing the lives of our people. Beyond the 826 grants issued by Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund to date, we have taken a strategic decision to use part of the funding to support PhD research grants. This is in line with Government efforts to develop Uganda’s knowledge economy. We are hopeful that this will help unlock the potential of Makerere to substantively contribute to national development,” he said. He also appreciated the President for the generous contribution of UGX 800 million towards the year-long Mak@100 celebrations. He equally applauded the development partners whose generous support has trained the majority of PhDs, as well as a number of Masters and Post-docs. “I commend the Government and People of Sweden for the biggest staff development programme in the history of Makerere University. Sida support to Makerere University came to an end in June 2022 with more than 500 (staff at Makerere University and other Public Universities) obtaining PhDs and more than 1,000 obtaining Masters’ degrees. We are in consultation with the Swedish Embassy to explore alternative ways of research collaboration.”
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the MasterCard Foundation for the e-Learning Initiative aimed at addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teaching and learning and therefore enhancing Makerere University’s resilience to future disruptions in teaching, learning and research. “I would like to thank the other stakeholders who are providing scholarships to enable bright, but economically disadvantaged students to attain education at Makerere. These include the Madhvani Foundation, the Government of Uganda through the Higher Education Students Financing Board, the Embassy of China, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Government Ministries, State House, NORAD and many others. I thank the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board for the award of loans to students’ for both undergraduate degree and diploma programmes. The Board has so far supported a total of 1,853 learners at Makerere University since 2014 and this year, a total of 114 Students Loan beneficiaries are graduating.”
Regarding infrastructure development, the Vice Chancellor said plans were in high gear to renovate halls of residence starting with Lumumba and Mary Stuart. “We commend His Excellency, the President for his strategic engagements with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to provide the required funding for the renovation of all Halls of Residence and Schools of Medicine.”
Prof. Nawangwe urged the graduands to be proud and good Ambassadors of the Alma Mater and to put to good use the knowledge acquired to transform their communities and country at large.
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 75th graduation ceremony.
Overall, the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) presented 310 students for the award of degrees of Makerere University at the 75th 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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