The first session of the 73rd Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University got 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).
On the same occasion, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet K. Museveni addressed the congregation and 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.”
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, of the School of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences.
Please click the links below to read the full speeches.
Address by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports – Hon. Janet K. Museveni
Address by the Chancellor – Prof. Ezra Suruma
Address by the Vice Chancellor – Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe
Commencement lecture by Prof. Wendy Thomson
Citation of the Award of the Honorary Doctor of Science (h.c.) to Prof. Christopher Whalen
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