By Tuhirirwe Karane

From January 13th to 17th, 2025, Makerere University celebrated its 75th graduation ceremony, where a remarkable 491 graduates attained first-class honors, underscoring the university’s recovery and growth following a slump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, the university experienced a temporary drop in first-class graduates, with numbers declining from a peak of 420 in the (2019) 70th graduation ceremony to 344 in the 73rd and an even lower 283 in the 72nd graduation ceremony (2021). The COVID-19 disruptions, coupled with the transition to remote learning, affected academic performance. However, Makerere University has now fully recovered, with the 75th ceremony having an impressive 491 first-class graduates.

According to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, “This rise reflects not just an uptick in numbers but also an ongoing commitment to academic excellence and quality education. The university has continued to foster an environment conducive to success, with a focus on producing graduates who are well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to society.”

A notable highlight of the 75th graduation ceremony was the exceptional performance of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), which contributed 50% of the total number of first-class graduates. MUBS continues to play a pivotal role in shaping future leaders in the fields of business and management. 

The rising proportion of female graduates

Another trend that stands out is the increasing proportion of female graduates achieving first-class honors. In 2016, female graduates accounted for 41% of first-class honors recipients; by 2025, that number had risen to 55%. This aligns with a broader trend of rising female enrollment and graduation rates at Makerere University. Female students have increasingly dominated graduation lists at Makerere, with women making up 53% of the total graduates in 2025, reflecting consistent progress in gender parity.

The trend is also mirrored by the policy environment in Uganda’s educational landscape. Uganda’s affirmative action policy, which grants an additional 1.5 points to female students during public university admissions, has played a crucial role in boosting female enrollment and, consequently, female academic achievement. 

A rare first-class honors degree from the Makerere Law School

In a significant milestone, Lawrence Alado emerged as the best student from the Makerere Law School, attaining a first-class degree in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with a CGPA of 4.56. Achieving a first-class honors degree from the Makerere Law School is rare, with Lawrence becoming only the 15th student in the history of the Law School to do so since it opened in 1971. 

Beating all the students and all the first class graduates was  Mr. Abdul Latif Umar Bagoole who was celebrated as the Best Overall Student in the 75th graduation ceremony. Bagoole, who graduated with a Bachelor of Leisure and Hospitality Management from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), achieved an extraordinary CGPA of 4.97 out of 5.00. His performance also earned him the distinction of being the Best Student in the Humanities.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, congratulated the graduates and urged them to honour the legacy of the university by using their knowledge and skills to positively impact their communities and society. He emphasised the importance of applying the knowledge gained at Makerere to solve real-world challenges and make a tangible difference in various sectors, including business, healthcare, education, and social services.

At Makerere University, a First-Class degree is awarded to students who achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.40 to 5.00 upon completion of their undergraduate studies.