Makerere University graduates amid gown controversy
By Our Reporter
Marred with a sea of graduation gown controversy, the country’s biggest and highest ranking public university will be graduating all week, this week. Unlike the other graduations that mostly only attract traffic jam, Makerere’s 70th graduation will have many of those graduating are going without
gowns. Despite the government’s ‘By Uganda Build Uganda’ drive, a contractor given the job to supply this year’s gowns decided to import from China and will not make it on time.
To view this from a tourist angle leaves a streak of sadness behind. See, education tourism is a sector that is often under-estimated, albeit important. Even with minimal to no effort, the sector still manages to attract over 16000 students in universities alone and could do better. Nearly 2000 international students will seek out Makerere University every year, a graduation therefore by the ivory tower is pertinent.
The Ivory tower as Makerere University is fondly called was recently ranked the fifth best institution in Africa in the latest 2020 World University Rankings by the Times Higher Education. The rankings released early this month also stated that the university is the best in East, Central, West and Southern Africa.
Going past this controversy is exactly what the university needs to do; for a ranking this high, matters that should be trivial can’t be the reason the ivory tower is belittled. That said, we at View Uganda would like to wish all those graduating a very full filling week.
Don’t forget to seek out our small lunch and dinner packages at Midtown dinners. For a paltry 20.000 up to 35.000 Uganda Shillings, you cannot have a meal, but it comes with a soft drink. There can’t be a better way to celebrate this much deserved win, we promise you that?
