Congratulations: Over 700 graduate from CEDAT

The 71st graduation at Makerere University closed today with over 700 graduands from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) receiving degrees and Doctors of Philosophy. The college also saw 21 undergraduate students graduate with First Class Honours Degrees from various fields of Engineering, Architecture, Surveying, Quantity Economics, Construction Economics and Fine Art. 

The Academic Procession on its way to the Freedom square for the graduation ceremony

The College had 2 members of staff graduate with PhDs. Dr. Maximus Byamukaba Baguma, of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, did his research in Energy Harvesting, storage and Management for environment Monitoring Wireless sensor Networks in the East African Region while Dr. Barugahare John Berchmans, from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, researched the Development Control and Physical Plans Implementation in Kampala Capital city 1944-2018.

About 101 students graduated with Masters in various fields.  

During the graduation, the university awarded an hononary degree to Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, the President of the Africa Development Bank.

Often described as “Africa’s Optimist-in-Chief”, Dr. Adesina was awarded an Honorary Degree of Letters of Makerere University.

 Dr. Adesina was first elected President of the African Development Bank on 28 May 2015. He was re-elected for a second five-year term on 27 August 2020 with 100% of the votes of the Bank’s shareholders, regionals and non-regionals — the first such in the history of the Bank since 1964.

First Class students from MTSIFA that attended the ceremony

During the graduation, The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe credited CEDAT for its continued role in contributing to research and innovation in the university. He thanked the researchers and students of CEDAT for their contribution towards the fight against Covid 19.

The college has developed of COVID-19 diagnostic rapid test kit for detection of the virus in saliva in Partnership with Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda Virus Research Institute. It is expected that the rapid testing kit will be cheap, safe, non-invasive, and with rapid turnaround time for detection of active Covid-19 including individual self-collection of the sample. This intervention is expected to minimize transmission risk faced by health care practitioners and offers effective diagnosis, efficient contact tracing and community surveillance.

The college also developed a recyclable water hand washing machine, an innovation the Vice Chancellor said will be pertinent even beyond COVID-19, especially in health and educational facilities, which use a lot of water as well as in areas with acute scarcity of water.

In addition, MAPRONANO has produced a diesel engine. “You will recall that the Kiira EV electric car is also a product of this college. With the development of the diesel engine, the stage is set for production of all types of vehicles,” Prof. Nawangwe said.

The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma, thanked the faculty and staff of colleges for the excellent work done to prepare the students that were graduating. “Thank you very much. I am confident that these graduates have acquired great knowledge and life skills that will enable them to thrive in their professional careers and to contribute enormously to the prosperity of our country,” he said.

Prof. Suruma encouraged all graduates to be a candle that lights up the world and also keep their faith in God, saying the only 2 things one will always have are “your faith and your education”

Dr. Barugahare John Berchmans during the graduation ceremony

“On Tuesday students of Performing Art and Film brought tears of joy to my eyes when they Sang: Carry your candle into the darkness and go light your world. A candle may be small in size but when it is taken where there is darkness it brings amazing relief and hope,” Prof. Suruma said. “So do not underestimate the power you have to bring hope and joy wherever you find yourself, wherever God sends you. Together, our candles will grow into a powerful flame that will transform Uganda forever.” As the curtains came down on the 71st graduation ceremony, the vice chancellor noted that a total of 12,550 students had been awarded degrees and diplomas of Makerere University in various disciplines. Of these, a record 108 received PhDs. Of these, 38 graduands are female, representing 35% of the total.  A total of 1160 graduands received Masters Degrees. Of these, 434 are female, representing 37% of the total. Of all the 12,550 graduands, 51% are female and 49% are male.