Makerere University has commenced its 76th Graduation Ceremony, with 9,295 graduands set to receive degrees and diplomas over a four-day celebration held at Freedom Square in Kampala.
The ceremony has brought together scholars, families, friends, and industry partners in recognition of academic excellence and achievement. Of the total graduands, 213 are receiving Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 2,503 are graduating with Master’s degrees, and 6,343 are being awarded Bachelor’s degrees. Additionally, 206 students are graduating with postgraduate diplomas, while 30 are receiving undergraduate diplomas.
The university reported that 4,262 of the graduands are female and 5,033 are male, marking the first time in 15 years that male graduands have outnumbered female graduands.
On the opening day, Esther Ziribaggwa emerged as the Best Overall Student in the Sciences, graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural and Rural Innovation and a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.77. She was accompanied by her parents and the Chairperson of Convocation, Mr George Turyamureeba, as she received a cheque from the Chancellor during the ceremony.
The commencement address was delivered by Prof Nicholas Ozor, Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network, Nairobi, Kenya.
Presiding over the ceremony on behalf of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, the State Minister for Primary Education, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, described Makerere University as a model institution that nurtures leadership and sharpens scholarship.
In her address, Mrs Museveni highlighted government’s strategic investment in research, innovation, and infrastructure to strengthen higher education. She cited the establishment of the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund, which supports high-impact research aligned to national development priorities, enabling researchers and innovators to develop scalable solutions across key sectors.
The Minister further noted that Parliament approved a USD 162 million concessional loan to upgrade science, technology, and innovation infrastructure at Makerere University. The funding will facilitate the construction of modern laboratories, smart classrooms, and state-of-the-art facilities for Engineering and Health Sciences, investments intended to position the institution within the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
She also revealed that government has embarked on constructing a National Stadium at Makerere University and other institutions of higher learning to promote physical education, strengthen talent identification, and boost investment in the sports sector.