The 73rd Makerere University graduation ceremony has kicked off this morning, with students from the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Health Sciences, and the School of Law graduating today.
However, on Sunday, the chairperson of the Ceremonies Committee, Prof. Patrick Mangeni, issued guidelines for graduation.
In a statement, Mangeni said that no phones, cameras, and video cameras will be allowed at Freedom Square throughout the five-day graduation ceremony.
He also warned them against carrying dangerous weapons, chemicals, alcohol, cigarettes, canned foods and drinks, bottled drinks in back bags, lighters, glasses, and knives.
He also stated that each graduand is expected to come to Freedom Square fully dressed in his or her Makerere University graduation gown and accompanied by only two invited guests.
The graduands and invited guests are expected to be seated in Freedom Square by 7:00am.
The Minister of Education, Janet Kataha Museveni is expected to grace the 73rd graduation ceremony alongside the Vice Chancellor of the University of London, Prof. Wendy Thomson who is slated to deliver a commencement lecture.
At least 13,221 graduands, of whom 6,809 (52%) are female and 6,412 (48%) are male, are expected to graduate during the 73rd graduation ceremony which ends on Friday.
Of these, 102 are Ph.D. holders while 1,378 are master’s students.
Security is expected to be tight with the university management tasking people to comply with the security checks to ensure a smooth ceremony.
Meanwhile, students from the college of education and external studies and from agriculture and environmental sciences will graduate on Tuesday.
Students from the college of business and management sciences, computing and information sciences, veterinary medicine, animal resources, and bio-security will graduate on Wednesday, while students from Makerere University business schools will graduate on Thursday.
The graduation ends on Friday with students from the college of humanities and social sciences and the college of engineering, design, arts, and technology.