Over 4000 students to miss graduation at Makerere University

Over 4000 students are set to miss out as Makerere University holds its 69^th graduation ceremony later this month.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, the university Vice Chancellor, Prof.Barnabas Nawangwe said that a total of 13299 had satisfied all the requirements for the 69^th graduation ceremony.

“These will be presented for conferment of degrees and award of diplomas for the graduation ceremony to be held from Tuesday 15^th to Friday 18^th January 2019,”Prof.Nawangwe said.

According to Alfred Masikye Namoah, the university Academic Registrar, of the over 13000 students set to graduate, 368 got first class honor degrees adding that the best students will be honored during the graduation ceremony.

Prof. Nawangwe however said that over 4000 students will not be able to graduate for a number of reasons which among others he said include non -payment of  fees.

“We compiled the list of those to graduate in December but those who had not fully paid were 4000 and these will not graduate,” Prof. Nawangwe.

The Makerere University Vice Chancellor insisted that only students who have satisfied all graduation requirements within the stipulated timeframes were included on the graduation lists.

He noted that graduation requirements include among others clearance of all outstanding fees owed to the university and payment of graduation fees of shs218,000 for each student.

“The unique Makerere University graduation gown costing shs98000 has been incorporated into the 69^th graduation fees,” he noted.

On the claim of names missing on the graduation lists despite fulfilment of all requirements, Prof. Nawangwe said preliminary investigations have shown that many of these students could have submitted their research reports after deadlines and it has affected their graduation.

“Whereas it is too late to include these names on the graduation list, such cases will be able to pick their transcripts but graduate at subsequent ceremonies.”

He however noted that transcripts for all students will be ready even before the graduation ceremony.