Uganda Christian University (UCU) will on Friday celebrate academic excellence as it holds the first session of its 27th Graduation Ceremony, where 1,274 graduands will receive qualifications ranging from doctoral degrees to diplomas.
The graduation ceremony, to be held at the university’s main campus in Mukono, marks the first of four graduation sessions that make up UCU’s 27th graduation series, a system introduced to enable students to graduate soon after completing their studies.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, David Mugawe, said the university is committed to ensuring students transition quickly into the labour market instead of waiting nearly a year before graduating.
“This is the first part of our 27th graduation. We now hold our graduations in four parts so that students are able to graduate within a few months after completing their studies,” Mugawe said.
During the ceremony, the university will confer two Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, award 51 Master’s degrees, 27 Postgraduate Diplomas, hundreds of Bachelor’s degrees and diplomas, reflecting the institution’s continued growth in postgraduate education while maintaining strong undergraduate programmes.
A total of 1,274 students will graduate, comprising 576 males (45 percent) and 698 females (55 percent), with women continuing to dominate the graduating class.
The ceremony will also celebrate exceptional academic performance, with the university recording 102 first-class honours graduates, the highest number in its history. Of these, 60 are female while 42 are male, underscoring the strong academic performance of women at the institution.
The overall best-performing student is Don Acheng, who graduated with a Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics Management after attaining an impressive Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.91.
The best male student is Marvin Tumsiime, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a GPA of 4.85, while Emmanuel Nsubuga emerged as the best-performing student in the sciences after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics with a GPA of 4.79.
Ahead of the graduation ceremony, the university held its traditional Commissioning Service, where graduating students were formally commissioned to leave the university and apply their knowledge, skills and values in service to society.
According to Mugawe, the commissioning ceremony reflects UCU’s longstanding tradition of not only producing academically competent graduates but also individuals grounded in integrity, professionalism and Christian values.
Prof. Angella Napakol, the University Director for Academics noted that employers continue to express confidence in UCU graduates, with several organisations already requesting the institution to recommend top-performing students for employment.
They attributed this demand to the university’s deliberate emphasis on character formation, professionalism and practical skills alongside academic excellence.
The university also highlighted its continued investment in digital learning and innovation through its e-campus strategy, which has integrated online teaching, student registration, academic records, financial systems and library services to prepare graduates for an increasingly technology-driven workplace.
The graduation ceremony is expected to be presided over by UCU Chancellor Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, who will confer the degrees, while former Archbishop Bishop Henry Luke Orombi will serve as the chief guest.
Parents, guardians, sponsors and members of the public have been invited to witness the graduation as the university celebrates another cohort of graduates ready to contribute to national development and global service.
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