By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Uganda’s mighty Makerere University has today Monday 13th, February/ 2023 commenced its 73rd graduation ceremony that will run for 5 days up to Friday 17th, February/2023 with students from Collegesof Natural Sciences, Health Sciences & School of Law graduating on Day One.
These will be follow by graduation of students from Colleges of Education and External Studies, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences on Tuesday 14th, February/2023.
Graduands are seen waiting to be conferred to by the Chancellor on Day One of 73rd Makerere University Graduation/Courtesy Photo.
Statistics indicate that a total of 13,221 graduands are cleared to graduate. Of these, 6,809 are female constituting to 52% and 6,412 are male constituting to 48% is the overall nuber of students expected to graduate during 73rd Graduation Ceremony.
The event will see 102 PhD students, 1,378 Master’s students, 108 postgraduate diploma and 35 undergraduate diploma of the former graduate.
Via her twitter account, The Guest of Honor, The First Lady and Minister of Education, Ms Janet Kataha Museveni said;
The First Lady and Minister of Education, Ms. Janet Kataha Museveni addresses the congregation on zoom from State House/Courtesy Photo.
It is always a joy for me to witness another cohort of graduates accomplish a key milestone in their education journey. I, therefore, extend my warmest congratulations to all the
graduates for their hard work and determination in completing this phase.
I also want to acknowledge the University Council for its new strategic plan aimed at increasing the enrolment of graduate students. This plan addresses the need for highly skilled professionals in the economy and higher education institutions.
The government is committed to supporting efforts to improve the research and learning environment and to turn Makerere University into a research-led institution, with the resources available.
Graduates, Makerere University has equipped you with knowledge and skills. I encourage you to use these tools to further your careers and contribute to society.
My prayer for you is that you have the wisdom to take the necessary steps, with humility and grace, to fulfill your divine purpose in life.
Your character will be the foundation for all the work you have done at Makerere University. May God bless you all as you venture into the world and embark on your professional journeys.
Professor Wendy Thomson from the University of London addresses at the 73rd Graduation Ceremony at Makerere’s mighty Freedom Square/Courtesy Photo.
In her speech, Professor Wendy Thomson from the University of London emphasized contributions of new generation of graduates saying that there are major multinational and regional initiatives under way to help redress the balance and provide solutions to some of the toughest global health challenges of our time.
She said however, to succeed, these initiatives will need new generations of committed and talented professionals to maintain momentum.
She told graduates, ‘you don’t need me to tell you that you are graduating into a challenging world. Tensions are growing between countries and within countries, between people, between the haves and the have nots, between those living in secure homes with secure jobs and those that have neither’.
It is against this background that she implored them to be creative and versatile to face the challenging world.
Professor Ezra Suruma the Chancellor of Makerere University gives his remarks during Day One of 73rd Makerere University Graduation Ceremony/Coutesy Photo.
In his opening remarks, Professor Ezra Suruma the Chancellor of Makerere University, quoted the Bible (John 17:4)NIV “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”
He admitted that finishing the task God has given us to do brings glory to God and to us there by accomplishing what brought you to Makerere University you have brought glory to God, to your parents, to your supporters and to your country.
As a parent, he pleaded to them to hold God as a strong pillar putting into account that ‘Together we face a future that none can foresee or foretell. Only God knows what will happen to us individually, nationally and globally’.
According to 73rd Graduation Cermony, graduands and invited guests are expected to be seated in the Freedom Square by 7am.