Above: The Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Ezra Suruma confers a PhD upon Dr Godfrey Bwire
Today 14th January 2020, at the Freedom Square, a total of 132 students across all academic levels, graduated from Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), amidst cheers and jubilation. Bwire Godfrey (now Doctor) received a degree of Doctor of Philosophy for his work “Molecular characterization of Vibrio cholerae responsible for cholera epidemics in Uganda by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multi-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and whole genome sequencing (WGS)”.
The other graduands obtained degrees of Masters in Public Health (50), Masters in Public Health Nutrition (12), Masters in Disaster Management (5), Masters in Health Services research (12), Masters in Health Informatics (5) and Bachelors in Environmental Health Science (47).
Ms Doreen Tuhebwe and the School’s academic registrar, Ms Gladys Khamili attended the ceremony. They congratulated the students on their momentous milestone; you could visibly see their excitement at seeing every MakSPH graduate present.
The Dean School of Public Health, in her usual spick – and – span fashion, and a notable air of pristineness, took her place in the academic procession. Prof Christopher Garimoi Orach, the supervisor for Dr Godfrey Bwire, was present as well.
The Vice – Chancellor of the University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, apologized for "the mess created by the incompetence of the supplier”, and pledged that such a mishap would never occur again, adding that all the gowns needed were all available. He revealed that the College of Health Sciences was the Flagship College of the university with a top – ranking worldwide, for research in clinical medicine as well as in collaborative research output. He added that Makerere University was the world’s leader in Tropical Medicine especially in regards to Communicable and Non – Communicable Diseases like Ebola, Malaria, and HIV/AIDS among others.
Also present was the Chancellor, Prof Ezra Suruma, who appealed to all the graduands to pray for purpose and direction in life, and not live hopelessly in the world; and to aid society to reduce suffering.
The minister of Education and Sports, and First Lady Hon Janet Kataaha Museveni reminded the graduands that society now viewed them as responsible contributors to society. She challenged them to embark on that duty with haste.
Representing the president of Uganda, the Prime Minister Hon Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, also an alumnus of Makerere University revealed that government of Uganda was invested in an “education strategy that is intended to produce a literate and skilled industrialized society” to transform Uganda into middle income status faster. He urged researchers to “re – orient the minds of the people” by leading the value addition chain in the agricultural sector.
