Makerere University’s 68th graduation ceremony kicked off on Tuesday with the customary procession from the main building to the Freedom Square from where 2,425 graduands from the Colleges of Natural Science, Agriculture and Education were awarded degrees and diplomas.
14,085 Degrees will be awarded throughout the week and these will include 69 PhDs, 980 Masters Degrees, 96 Postgraduate Diplomas, 133 undergraduate diplomas and 12,691 Bachelors Degrees.
While addressing the graduands and invited guests, Barnabas Nawangwe, the University’s Vice-Chancellor revealed that the university administration will no longer tolerate the kind of hooliganism that has tarnished Makerere University’s reputation over the last years.
The Vice Chancellor also revealed that the University is reviewing the Makerere University Visitation Committee report to President Museveni with the intention prioritizing the implementation of its various recommendations.
Makerere University Chancellor Professor Ezra Suruma urged the new graduates to strive towards creating jobs for themselves and others in Uganda.
He urged them to discard the mentality of looking towards foreign countries for greener pastures, where he said many Africans have been taken advantage of and mistreated.
The excitement on the faces of some of the graduands was clearly evident as they cheered on while their names were being read.
One of the highlights of the graduation week will be the award of an Honorary Doctorate to Winnie Mandela, the ex-wife to South African icon Nelson Mandela for her role in the fight against Apartheid.