Government has pledged to help Makerere University become a research-led institution through supporting and enhancing its research and learning environment.
“I assure you of Government’s support towards enhancing the research and learning environment, and in your quest to become a research-led university within the available resources,” the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, told the university staff and Graduands at the 73rd Graduation ceremony of Makerere.
She further thanked Makerere University for being an excellent partner to the Government, through training the required human resources and research intended to drive national transformation.
The Minister further acknowledged the University Council for its strategic plan aimed at increasing the enrolment of graduate students.
She called upon the Council, graduands and parents to fight against the moral decadence in society by participating in a campaign code-named “Makerere says no to HIV/AIDS and corruption.”
She further implored the graduates to make good use of the knowledge and skills the university has equipped them with to further their careers and contribute to society.
Earlier, the first session of the five day long graduation, also kicked off to a bright start with the Chancellor, Professor Ezra Suruma conferring degrees and awarding diplomas to candidates from the College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) and School of Law (SoL).
Also, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe recognized the presence of Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and thanked her for accepting to visit Makerere and deliver a commencement lecture, the first of its kind. Professor Thomson appreciated the warm reception and noted that her visit was an opportunity to renew the historical ties between the University of London and Makerere.
In a rather befitting start to the award ceremony, the Chancellor conferred Makerere University’s Honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) to Professor Christopher Curtis Whalen in recognition of his devotion to the control of infectious diseases in low-and middle-income countries, especially tuberculosis and HIV infection in Uganda.
Professor Whalen is the Karen and Jim Holbrook Professor of Global Health and Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Georgia where he is the director of the Global Health Institute in the College of Public Health.
The citation of honour was read by Professor Moses Joloba, the Dean, School of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences.
During the five-day ceremony, a total of 13,221 graduates are expected to graduate in different programs.
