Makerere University will tomorrow commence its week-long 76th graduation ceremony at the iconic Freedom Square, with more than 8,000 graduands expected to receive degrees and diplomas across various disciplines.
According to the Academic Registrar, Prof Mukadasi Buyinza, a total of 8,432 students will graduate with undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications during the four-day ceremony, which will conclude on Friday. The graduation marks one of the largest cohorts in the institution’s recent history and underscores its continued expansion in academic programmes and research output.
On the first day, graduands from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Law will be conferred with their respective awards.
Prof Buyinza urged all graduands to arrive early on their scheduled day and comply with the established entry procedures. He emphasised the importance of observing designated checkpoints and adhering to guidance from university marshals to ensure smooth proceedings.
Graduands have also been instructed to locate their assigned seats in advance, as each chair inside the large ceremonial tents erected at Freedom Square bears the name of the respective graduate. University officials said the seating arrangement is intended to streamline movement and maintain order during the ceremony.
On the second day, degrees will be awarded to students from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), the School of Public Health and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB). The ceremony will also include graduands from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), an affiliated institution based in Nakawa, as well as those from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).
The final day will see graduands from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, and the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) receive their awards.
A key highlight of the 76th graduation ceremony will be the conferment of a record 185 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees — the highest number ever awarded at a single graduation ceremony in the university’s history. University management described the milestone as a reflection of Makerere’s growing research capacity and commitment to advanced scholarship.
Ahead of the ceremony, the Office of the Academic Registrar confirmed that transcripts for undergraduate graduands had been distributed to college registrars for onward issuance to students. The university encouraged graduands to follow up with their respective colleges regarding collection procedures.
In a congratulatory message shared through official communication channels, the university commended both students and staff for their dedication and resilience.
“I congratulate the students and the staff of Makerere University on a job well done,” the statement read.
Makerere’s graduation ceremonies traditionally attract thousands of parents, guardians, alumni and dignitaries from across Uganda and beyond, making the event one of the most prominent fixtures on the national academic calendar.
The 76th ceremony is taking place amid adjustments to the university’s academic schedule. Semester Two of the 2025/2026 Academic Year was postponed to 10 February 2026 following guidance from the Ministry of Education and Sports and will now run until 6 June 2026. University officials clarified that the changes to the academic calendar would not affect the graduation ceremony.
The conferment of 185 PhDs further cements Makerere’s standing as a leading centre of higher education and research in Africa, producing highly skilled graduates equipped to contribute to national development and global scholarship.