Makerere University management has explained why the institution will graduate significantly fewer students during its forthcoming 76th graduation ceremony compared to previous years, saying the drop is a direct result of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Next month, the university is set to graduate 8,432 students across various academic levels and disciplines, a sharp decline from the 13,658 students who graduated during the 75th graduation ceremony.
The difference of 5,226 graduands had sparked public concern and speculation about declining enrolment and academic output at Uganda’s oldest public university. The 76th graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27.
However, while addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, clarified that the cohort scheduled to graduate next month consists mainly of students admitted during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, a period marked by unprecedented disruptions in the education sector.
‘People will be wondering why we are graduating fewer students in this cohort. These are the students who were admitted during Covid-19. We did not have A-level students at the time, so we had to admit those who were available.’ Prof Nawangwe said.
He explained that because national A-level examinations were delayed during the pandemic, Makerere was unable to admit students through the direct entry scheme, forcing the university to rely heavily on diploma holders, who traditionally form a smaller intake.
Despite the reduced numbers, university management insists the figures do not signal decline but rather reflect a strategic shift in academic focus.
The Academic Registrar, Prof Mukadasi Buyinza, said the university will confer degrees and award certificates to a total of 8,432 graduands, comprising 4,030 females and 4,402 males.
According to Prof Buyinza, the graduating class includes 185 PhD holders, 2,034 Master’s graduates, 6,043 Bachelor’s degree holders, 137 postgraduate certificate holders, and 33 postgraduate diploma graduates.
‘I am proud to announce that in comparison to the 75th graduation, we have registered a 30 per cent growth in graduate student output,’ Prof Buyinza said. ‘This is a result of our strategic decision to prioritise graduate education in line with our research-led agenda.’Prof Buyinza said.
Meanwhile, he said that the numbers will go back to the original numbers next year.
Prof Nawangwe noted that the university is recording its highest number of PhD graduates in a single graduation ceremony, which he described as a major milestone in Makerere’s long-term strategic plan.
‘This is the highest number of PhDs we have graduated,’ he said. ‘It shows that we are steadily moving towards our goal of becoming a research-led institution.’
He added that by 2030, Makerere University intends to admit and graduate more postgraduate students than undergraduate students.
‘By 2030, we shall be admitting and graduating more graduate students compared to undergraduate ones,’ Prof Nawangwe said.
Meanwhile, statistics released by the university indicate a shift in gender composition among graduates this year, with male students outnumbering females, reversing last year’s trend.
During the 75th graduation ceremony held in January last year, 7,297 of the 13,658 graduates were female, compared to 6,361 males, a difference of 936 in favour of women. This year, however, 4,402 males will graduate compared to 4,030 females, a difference of 372.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof Sarah Ssali, said the gender gap remains relatively small and reflects progress toward gender balance.
‘This year’s gender parity is not too big,’ Prof Ssali said. ‘It is good for an institution that has consistently advocated for gender equality.’
In a departure from previous years, Makerere University has also finalised and printed all academic transcripts ahead of the graduation ceremony.
Prof Nawangwe said graduates who have fulfilled their financial obligations to the university can collect their transcripts immediately or wait until the graduation days.
‘I wish to announce that the transcripts have been finalised and are ready for pickup,’ he said. ‘They can be picked from respective colleges even before the graduation ceremony.’
Students from the School of Law, College of Education and External Studies, College of Computing and Information Sciences, and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will graduate on the first day.
Students from the College of Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, College of Health Sciences, and School of Public Health will graduate on day two.
Students from Makerere University Business School and College of Business and Management Sciences will graduate on day three.
Students from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, college of Humanities and Social Sciences, and students from the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and institute of Social Research will graduate on the last day.
The ceremony was initially slated for this month, but was postponed due to the general elections.