Makerere Graduation Guests Overwhelm Venue, Cause Seating Chaos

Makerere graduation guests miss seats on day 4, Parents and guests of graduands were unable to secure seats on the fourth day of Makerere University’s 73rd graduation ceremony, which the institution attributes to a violation of guidelines.

This was because many graduands brought in more guests than the two permitted per graduand. Students from Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and their parents stood throughout a five-hour ceremony, with some elderly parents resorting to sitting on the grass.

According to the rules, each graduand is allowed to bring only two guests, who must be parents or guardians, to the ceremony.

The university Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, attributed this shortage to graduands who he said did not follow the graduation guidelines. 

It is a perennial problem. Mubs students are always accompanied by up to five visitors instead of two,

Prof Nawangwe

Also Read: Makerere University Kicks Off their 73rd Graduation

Whereas graduands were not happy that their parents were not able to find where to sit, parents were happy to witness their children graduate.

Ms. Magdalena Nassolo, a parent in attendance, alleges that her child brought four guests to the ceremony.

“I will not blame the university for this. I blame ourselves for coming up with more people who were not invited. We were supposed to come two people but my child brought four of us,” Ms Nassolo said.

Attendee thinks the university should have respected parents by serving soda. Despite acknowledging the university’s rules, Nassolo feels that the institution should have shown appreciation for parents by serving them soda, considering the amount of money they pay in tuition fees and other expenses.

Today marks the end of the graduation ceremonies, which began on Monday and will conclude with the students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.