The 76th graduation ceremony of Makerere University has officially begun at the university’s iconic Freedom Square in Kampala, marking a four-day academic celebration running from February 24 to February 27, 2026.
The ceremony, which was postponed from the traditional January schedule due to the national election calendar, is underway at Freedom Square, starting with the procession of academicians.
According to the university’s official statement, daily proceedings start at 8:30 a.m. The graduation will see approximately 8,432 graduands receive academic awards, including 185 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 2,034 master’s degrees, 6,043 bachelor’s degrees, 137 postgraduate diplomas, and 33 diplomas.
Day One of the ceremony focused on graduands from several academic units, including the College of Computing and Information Sciences, the College of Education and External Studies, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Law.
The event features the traditional academic procession, official speeches from university leadership, and the formal conferment of degrees. University Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe is expected to address the congregation, alongside the Chancellor or designated officials who will preside over the award of academic certificates.
Graduands were advised to collect their academic gowns early from the University Hall Dining Hall, carry proper identification, and confirm their names on the Senate-approved graduation list to avoid last-minute inconveniences.
University authorities emphasised punctuality and adherence to ceremony protocols at Freedom Square, where preparations were finalised ahead of the event.
Social media activity surrounding the graduation has been high, with college pages such as the College of Computing and Information Sciences and the College of Engineering, Art, Design and Technology promoting the ceremony using hashtags like #Mak76thGrad.
Makerere University remains Uganda’s leading public institution of higher learning, continuing its legacy of producing skilled graduates contributing to national and regional development.
The remaining colleges, including the Makerere University Business School (MUBS), are scheduled to hold their graduation sessions later in the week.
For full schedules and updates, the university has directed the public to visit its official website and news portal.