Makerere University has announced a noticeable decline in the number of graduates for its 76th graduation ceremony, scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27, attributing the drop largely to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Uganda’s education system.
According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, a total of 8,432 students are expected to graduate this year, a sharp decrease from 13,642 graduates recorded during last year’s ceremony.
Prof. Nawangwe explained that the reduction is directly linked to disruptions caused by COVID-19, particularly the period when schools were closed nationwide and academic progression was halted.
“There was a year when Senior Six candidates could not transition to university because of the pandemic,” the Vice Chancellor said, noting that the gap created at that level has continued to ripple through the higher education system years later.
Uganda’s education sector was among the hardest hit by COVID-19, with prolonged school closures delaying examinations, admissions and university enrollment. While institutions have since resumed normal operations, the effects are still being felt in student numbers and graduation cycles.
Despite the reduced turnout, Makerere University officials say preparations for the four-day ceremony are in high gear, with graduates drawn from various colleges and disciplines expected to be conferred with diplomas, degrees and postgraduate qualifications.
The university has emphasized that the quality of training and academic standards remain uncompromised, even as student numbers fluctuate due to external shocks such as the pandemic.
The 76th graduation ceremony will mark another milestone in Makerere’s long history as Uganda’s oldest and largest public university, continuing its tradition of contributing skilled professionals and leaders to national and regional development.
