CoVAB’s best graduands receive Academic Excellence Awards during the 73rd Graduation Ceremony
Star graduating students from The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity(CoVAB) received awards from the Norbrook Veterinary Academic Excellence Award 2023 and the Academic Excellence Awards for Scholars of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program at Makerere University.
The Best Veterinary Medicine Students receive a dummy check from the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma
The Norbrook Veterinary Academic Excellence Award 2023 that included certificates and a check of Fifteen Million shillings was handed over by the Chancellor Makerere University Prof. Ezra Suruma, to the best Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine students. These included Ms. Owemigisha Elizabeth who got CGPA of 4.22, Ms. Namata Alice with CGPA of 4.05 and Ms. Nagaba Polly with 3.95.
During same event, an additional three graduands received the Academic Excellence Award for Scholars of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program at Makerere University. They included Mirimu Arthur who got a first class degree with CGPA of 4.51 in Bachelor of Biomedical Laboratory Technology, Nabyunga Catherine, first class degree with 4.45 CGPA in Bachelor of Animal Production Management and Technology, as well as Nahwera Eufemia, with CGPA of 4.45 in Bachelor of Industry Livestock and Business.
Star students that received awards from the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program pose for a photo with their parents and Lecturer.
The awards were issued during the 73rd Graduation ceremony held Wednesday 15th February during which The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity presented her graduands. The College presented five Ph.Ds. amongst whom were staff namely Dr. Nabullime Margaret, Dr. Nassaka Joweria, Dr. Ssajjakambwe Paul, Dr. Ssekatawa Kenneth and Dr. Ober Peter.
The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma while addressing the congregation extended his congratulations to the graduands, parents guardians and other benefactors for the support rendered to the students and the University as a whole. ‘Thank you very much for supporting Makerere University to pursue its grand vision of becoming a thought leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation’, he said.
The Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma confers a Doctorate Degree on Dr. Nabulime Margaret during the 73rd graduation ceremomy
Prof. Suruma expressed gratification for the doctoral research output citing examples of studies conducted at various colleges. From the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) he picked on a study on improved indigenous feed resources and feeding practices for African catfish, whose study implications he said, were extremely promising for enhancing the production of catfish in Uganda.
‘I have commented on only a few that I could understand as a lay person. There are obviously many others which are equally important and perhaps more applicable. I only wished to indicate how relevant the research being done is and the significant contribution it is making to Uganda’s needs’, he said, commenting about the relevance of the research output of the university.
While addressing himself to the graduands, Prof. Suruma commended them for the spirit of hard work, endurance, self-control and discipline that enabled their success. The degrees we are awarding you today testify to the hardships, the discipline, the commitment, the pain and the tears you have shed over decades of academic struggle. He said the graduation was a testimony that in the face of adversity, poverty, deprivation, doubt and anger, the students found the determination to hold on and to rise after falling and therefore were now counted among the heroes and survivors of many intellectual battles.
He commended the staff of the university both academic and administrative whose efforts contributed to the successful completion of various degree programs and the guidance of the students on the complexities of academic life. He commissioned the graduating students to go out and change the world.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe while presenting the 73rd graduation statistics said 52% of the graduands were female and 48% male. There was a total of 13, 221 graduands, out of whom, 102 were graduating with Ph.Ds. 1,378 with Master’s Degrees, 11,598 with Bachelor’s degrees and 143 Diplomas.
The DVC, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe addresses the congregation
Prof. Nawangwe informed the gathering of the newly appointed University Council that included Mrs Lorna Magara who was reappointed as Chairperson, deputised by Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega. While congratulating the outgoing council for their dedicated service to the University, Prof. Nawangwe noted that the Council was responsible for giving the general direction and oversight to the management team.
In the area of research and outreach, the Vice Chancellor said in its effort to becoming a research led university, the Research and Innovation Fund through a Government of Uganda grant of Uganda Shillings 30 billion annually had transformed the university in a tremendous way, through innovations in all sectors. He said from CoVAB, research on transboundary and other zoonotic diseases as well as vaccine development was of great importance in ensuring the stability and progress of the nation.
While making reference to the Parish Development Model, Nawangwe said Makerere University was desirous of partnering with the Government and was undertaking studies that would inform the successful implementation of the program.
CoVAB Principal, Prof. Frank Nobert Mwiine, © flanked by the Deputy Principal , Dr. Acai Okwee (R) Dean SVAR, Prof. Robert Tweyongyere and Dean SBLS Dr. Claire Mugasa
To the graduands, the Vice Chancellor urged them to utilise their expertise to make Uganda a better place. ‘As graduates of Business and Management, Computing and Information Sciences, and Veterinary medicine, it is you that must ensure that our businesses are run on sound principles, our country embraces a digital era and that out food security is assured though the health of our livestock. We have empowered you to be critical thinkers, entrepreneurs and good managers of the economy’ he charged them while urging them to take on soft skills to be successful.
CoVAB’s Graduands attending the 3rd session of the 73rd Graduation ceremony at Freedom square, 15th February 2023.
Story by Harriet Musinguzi
