In a heartfelt tribute to her father’s unwavering support, a female graduate from Makerere University, Hillary Akello, took to TikTok to share a touching moment from her educational journey. Despite facing tough economic times, Akello’s father went to extraordinary lengths to ensure she could continue her education.
Akello recounted a poignant memory where her father, faced with her inability to sit for her S4 exams due to outstanding fees, took decisive action. He sought out a truck, ventured to the village, and loaded it with firewood. With tears in his eyes, he pleaded with the school to accept the firewood as payment so that his daughter could take her final O level papers. Akello emotionally shared, “we cried together on that day.”
She wrote: “To my dad who when I was denied to sit my S4 exams cause of fees balance and he went to looked for a truck, went to the village and filled it with firewood and brought it to school and begged them while crying to accept it in replacement of school feeds so his child can seat for her final O level papers. we cried together on that day.”
This touching tribute highlights the sacrifices parents often make to secure their children’s education, even in the face of adversity. Akello’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of parental support and the lengths some go to ensure their children have access to education.
Makerere University’s 74th Graduation Ceremony
Makerere University recently concluded its 74th graduation ceremony, held from January 29 to February 2. A total of 12,913 students from various colleges and schools celebrated their academic achievements at Uganda’s oldest university.
Among the graduates, 6,816 were female, showcasing the significant contribution of women to higher education in Uganda. The remaining 6,097 graduates were male, reflecting a balanced representation across genders.
The graduation cohort comprised 11,016 undergraduate students, 24 undergraduate diploma students, 156 postgraduate diploma students, 1,585 graduate students, and 132 PhD students. This diverse group of graduates represents a range of academic disciplines and accomplishments.