Makerere University is set to make history during its 76th graduation ceremony by conferring Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees on a record 185 graduands, the highest number awarded at a single graduation ceremony since the institution was founded.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27, 2026, at the university’s main campus in Kampala.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, confirmed the milestone in a post shared on his official social media platform, noting that preparations for the ceremony are already underway.
“I handed over all the transcripts for the undergraduate graduands to the college registrars for distribution ahead of the 76th graduation ceremony scheduled from 24th to 27th February 2026,” Prof Nawangwe said. “During the 76th graduation ceremony, we will confer PhDs on a record 185 graduands, the highest number at a single graduation ceremony in Makerere’s history.”
He congratulated both students and staff for the achievement, describing it as a collective effort to strengthen postgraduate training and research output at the university.
“I congratulate the students and the staff of Makerere University on a job well done,” he added.
The record number of PhD graduands reflects Makerere University’s long-term push to position itself as a leading research-led institution in Africa. Over the past decade, the university has invested heavily in doctoral training, research infrastructure and staff development, supported by government funding and international partnerships.
Founded in 1922 as a technical school, Makerere University is Uganda’s oldest and largest public university and one of Africa’s most prestigious higher education institutions. It has produced generations of leaders, academics and professionals across the continent.
In recent years, Makerere has consistently increased the number of doctoral graduates, in line with national and regional goals to boost innovation, knowledge production and evidence-based policymaking. The university has also expanded doctoral programmes across its colleges, including health sciences, engineering, agriculture, humanities, education, social sciences and natural sciences.
University officials say the growing number of PhD graduates is critical for strengthening Uganda’s human resource capacity, particularly in research, higher education teaching, public policy and industry.
The 76th graduation ceremony will see thousands of students awarded certificates, diplomas and degrees at various levels, marking another milestone in Makerere University’s contribution to national development and academic excellence.