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By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/ KMA Updates.
Makerere, Kampala-Uganda: Students from three Colleges that’s to say College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) and College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) were officially conferred PhDs, Master’s, Bachelor’s Degrees and Diplomas by Prof. Dr. Ezra Suruma, the Chancellor of Makerere University at a function held at the mighty Freedom Square.
NB: Chancellor’s speech is below this pictorial.
The chancellor’s procession heads to the mighty Freedom Square to officiate day 3 of 72nd Graduation. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Makerere University Department of Performing Arts and film heads to the Freedom Square. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University delivers his speech during Day 3 of the 72nd Graduation ceremony. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Prof. Dr. Ezra Suruma, Chancellor of Makerere University gives his remark during Day 3 of the 72nd Graduation ceremony. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Graduates awarded Doctors of Philosophy (PhDs) are seen with their graduation books and honors. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Other graduands are seen with smiles and faces of success at Day 3 of Makerere University 72nd Graduation. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
A PhD awardee breaks into tears of joy at Day 3 of Makerere University 72nd Graduation. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa. 
Mpango, best students from College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) awarded. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa. 
Chancellor’s procession leave Freedom Square after concluding day 3 of 72nd Graduation. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Makerere University Department of Performing Arts and film perform at day 3 of 72nd Graduation. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
Former director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Ms. Grace Akullo (Front Right) is seen amongst hundreds of parents who were present to witness their children declared success by Makerere University Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ezra Suruma. Photo by Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa.
ADDRESS BY THE CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR EZRA SURUMA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 72ND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY, 25TH MAY, 2022
Honorable Ministers
Honorable Members of Parliament
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Your Lordships the Judges of the Judicature
Religious Leaders
The Leadership of Kampala Capital City Authority
Representatives of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies
Chancellors and former Chancellors
Chairperson and Members of Makerere University Council
Vice-Chancellor and Members of the University Management Team
Former Vice Chancellors
Former University Management Staff
Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Principals of other Universities and Institutions
Members of the University Senate
Members of Staff of Makerere University
Parents and Guardians Graduands
The Media Fraternity
Distinguished Visitors
Ladies and Gentlemen:
A Word of Appreciation:
It is a great honor and privilege for me to add a warm welcome to you all on this historic occasion of the 72nd Graduation of Makerere University. I thank the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his remarks and for all the arrangements made by the administration towards the excellent management of this graduation ceremony.
I wish also to recognize the contributions of various institutions and organizations towards the University notably, the Government of Uganda, the Makerere University Council, the Senate, staff, students, the development partners and all stakeholders, especially the parents, for the vital role you have played in supporting Makerere University to pursue its educational vision of being a though leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation and development.
Congratulations to Graduands Let me now join the Vice Chancellor in congratulating today’s graduands. Today is the Third Session of Makerere University’s 72nd Graduation Ceremony and we are conferring degrees on graduands from the College of Computing and Information Sciences; the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio Security; and the College of Business and Management Sciences. I sincerely commend the spirit of hard work, of endurance and self-control that has brought you, the graduands, this far.
The degrees we are awarding you today testify to the hardships, the discipline, the commitment, the pain and the tears you have shed over the years and decades of academic and emotional struggle. Your graduation testifies to the world that in the face of all adversity, poverty, deprivation, doubt and even danger, you possessed the determination to strive on, to rise after the fall and today you are counted among the survivors. But of course you have not realized the success alone.
Makerere University is an integral part of your successful story. I must therefore thank the academic staff and the administration and support staff whose guidance has helped to bring you this far. They have done their part to guide you through the complexities of academic life. I am sure that you will always remember their enduring contribution to your struggles.
Equally significant has been the social, emotional and financial support that you have received continually from your parents, relatives, friends, religious leaders and fellow students. Many among you have also been supported by generous donors who provided you stipends and scholarships. Please join me in thanking all those men and women whose love and sacrifice has contributed to your achievements today. The Vice Chancellor in his addresses over the previous sessions highlighted a long list of the Makerere University’s achievements. They range from domestic to regional, continental and global.
Makerere University is a significant player on the continental and global academic and research stage. Makerere University has opened to you a glimpse into the possibilities and promises of knowledge. But this is only the beginning of the journey of your life. You must now add wisdom and experience to this knowledge. Strive for the wisdom to postpone today’s comfort and pleasure to a later time. In other words, learn to save and to invest. Strive for the wisdom to sometimes put the needs of others before your own.
It is called love. Strive for the wisdom to be accountable for the time and resources that have been placed under your responsibility. It is called integrity. This wisdom may spell the difference between a great life and a failed one. Whether we like it or not, we the senior citizens must handover the baton to the young generation. We must handover to you the responsibility for the faithful stewardship and multiplication of Uganda’s wealth and income.
I urge you to take on aggressively the serious challenges that our economy is facing. For example, consider the databases we need to manage the economy of Uganda. They are not yet in existence. The Parish Development Model must have real-time data on population structures, households, livestock populations as well as records of the effectiveness of local institutional performance such as the daily absenteeism of UPE teachers and workers in local Health Centers.
We must know the soil types in various parishes and which products can best grow there. We must be up-to-date on the state of community access roads and the rates of access to clean water in every village. This real time data is very important but it is not yet effectively implemented. All this and more requires new levels of information management and programming than we have seen in the past. The idea that we should leave matters of the economy to the invisible hand of the market place to optimize supply and demand may be plausible in the advanced economies of Europe and America. But for us here if we wait for the market to take us out of oblivion we shall wait forever. Indeed we have waited long enough. It is now time to take the economy in our own hands so as to create full employment and to meet the basic human needs of our population.
Your training has given you the required preparation for this enormous task. You are all critical actors in the improvement of the lives of the Ugandan people. Please get started and never quit. We are confident that you will excel. 12. Although the path ahead is lined with both pitfalls and opportunities, I urge you to be alert to the opportunities and as far as possible to stand firm in the face of adversity. Cultivate an attitude of openness, cooperation and gratitude towards the multitudes of people who will form an integral part of your future. In so doing, you will inspire the people around you and help them so that together you forge a better world. 13. I also urge you to be aggressively creative and innovative.
Despite the risks and high costs of innovation and creativity, it is the true path to leadership. It is only through innovation that you will stand out of the crowd. Take to heart all the gifts God has given you and apply them to make a better future for your family, your country and your world. In the end, you will win. 14. Remember Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. After 1,000 unsuccessful attempts to make a light bulb he did not stop. He said, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times.
The light bulb was an invention of 1,000 steps.” Uganda and Africa desperately need innovators in all areas of life. 15. Now you have the opportunity and the challenge to make a significant contribution towards a better nation and indeed a better world. This is your time. This is your moment. To quote President Barack Obama: “Yes. You can.” Congratulations on your graduation. I wish you a fruitful life.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY