When the 13th graduation ceremonies at Kyambogo University end this Friday, one of the memorable highlights for graduands will be walking home with their transcripts.
As deans of faculties read out names of graduands at the first session on Wednesday, university staff were busy distributing transcripts in the students’ tent.
Bonnie Busingye, a deaf graduand from the faculty of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, could not hide her excitement upon receiving one.
“In the history of Kyambogo, I have never seen this happen. I cannot believe that I am going back home with my transcript. Whoever came up with this plan, may God reward them abundantly,” Busingye said, talking through an interpreter, Emmy Orech, who showed me the transcript.
Busingye is one special-needs student who was recognised for graduating with a master’s degree in Vocational Pedagogy despite her disability. She is among the 7,157 graduands that have received certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s degrees this year. Of these, 3,467 are male and 3,590 female.
The three-day graduation ceremony which ends today, Friday, has seen at least 294 students receive first-class degree honours in various bachelor’s programmes.
The chief guest and minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, commended the university management for its ICT innovations that have enabled graduands go home with transcripts on graduation day.
“We are excited to learn that the graduands’ transcripts are ready and can be picked today,” Janet said. She said issuing transcripts on graduation day must turn into a culture rather than a one-off event.
By Wednesday, more than 1,000 transcripts had been printed. The Observer has learnt that transcripts for today’s graduands from the faculties of Science, Education and Engineering are also ready.
Prof Eli Katunguka, the university acting vice chancellor, read a report on the university’s major achievements before asking the minister to support them with close to Shs 40bn to recruit senior lecturers and professors, clear salary arrears, upgrade the out-dated sewerage system and the hazardous asbestos roofs across the university, among others.
Chancellor John Ssebuwuufu urged graduands not to shun opportunities that can enable them earn a living as they look forward to fulfilling their expectations.
“As a fresh graduate, you are unlikely to realise these expectations immediately. Keep a positive outlook to life, do not let your frustrations bog you down. Never indulge in excessive self-pity because that is the surest way to defeatism,” Ssebuwufu said.
nangonzi@observer.ug