With a few hours left to the graduation ceremony, Makerere University Students Guild has threatened to block the ceremonies should the university management fail to give gowns to all graduands by close of business today.
On Tuesday 14th January, Makerere University will hold its 70th graduation ceremony, however, only 7,000 out of more than 13,000 graduands have so far been able to receive their gowns.
Joshua Lawel Muhwezi, the Makerere Guild Information Minister says the absence of gowns a day before the ceremonies ruins the celebratory mood.
‘’With thousands of students yet to get their gowns, [College of Humanities and Social Sciences] alone which is the biggest college that has more than 2000 has not received a single gown or cap,” Muhwezi said.
According to Mhwezi, Makerere University does not lack funds but bleeds from financial mismanagement and under-utilization of its assets.
Muhwezi faults a group in the production of gowns at the university, pointing out that such operations are the reason the university found itself in a crisis.
Makerere University charges up to 98,000 Shillings from each student as the cost of the graduation gown.
There have been circulating reports that the gown supplier Team uniforms limited, was holding the gowns until its outstanding balance for gowns for last year’s graduation ceremonies is cleared.
The student’s guild tried addressing journalists on Monday morning but met stiff resistance from police who deployed heavily at their offices and frustrated the meeting.
The students said that the university management has only today, to meet its side of the bargain by ensuring that all graduating students have their gowns before the beginning of the ceremonies.
However, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor has maintained that the graduation will proceed as scheduled despite the inconveniences caused to the parents and graduands.
In a statement released on Sunday, January 12, 2020, the Professor apologized to the graduands and affirmed that the university had in place emergency measures to guarantee that gowns are ready in time for the ceremony.
