30 September 2026

Busitema University is set to graduate a record 2,268 students on Saturday, 3 October 2026, in its 17th Graduation Ceremony, the largest graduating class in the University’s history.

The ceremony will be held at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Busitema Campus and will begin at 8:00 a.m., with graduands and parents expected to be seated by that time to allow proceedings to start as scheduled. The President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, will be the Guest of Honour, joining ministers, local leaders, University officials, families and other invited guests for the occasion.

Academic Registrar Dr. Gimuguni Lillian Nabaasa says the record number is one of several milestones that make the 17th Graduation Ceremony special. Busitema will present its second cohort of PhD graduates, while three academic programmes will have graduates for the first time.

Three candidates will receive doctoral degrees. Two will graduate with the Doctor of Philosophy in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from the Faculty of Science and Education, while the third will receive the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration and Management from the Faculty of Management Sciences.

Another 149 students will graduate with master’s degrees, 685 with diplomas and 588 with certificates, alongside students completing bachelor’s degree programmes.

The ceremony will also see the first graduates from the Master of Science in Cyber Physical Systems Engineering, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Bachelor of Science in Statistics. Their graduation adds another chapter to the University’s expansion into programmes that are opening new areas of advanced training and study.

Dr. Nabaasa says the size of the graduating class and the academic milestones reached this year are an achievement the University is proud of. She credits the progress to the work of the students, the University and the parents and families who have supported them through their studies.

Her message to the graduands is equally focused on what comes after Saturday’s ceremony. She has urged them to carry the values of Busitema University into their careers, uphold professionalism and ethics, and remain committed to learning as their careers develop.

Beyond the record numbers and new academic milestones, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, Assoc. Prof. Saphina Biira, turns attention to what comes next for the graduating class. She says the value of their education will be seen in how they apply their knowledge, solve problems, innovate and contribute to national development.

That focus is also reflected in how the University is strengthening its academic programmes. Assoc. Prof. Biira says Busitema is improving the quality and relevance of its training, expanding postgraduate education and research, strengthening partnerships with industry and development partners, and investing in facilities that support practical training, digital learning and innovation.

The three PhD graduates and the new programmes represented at this year’s ceremony give that growth a visible presence on graduation day, but Assoc. Prof. Biira Assoc. Prof. Biira adds that the University’s responsibility goes beyond the number of students it graduates, with greater attention needed on the difference its training and research make beyond the University.

Assoc. Prof. Biira says the achievement of the graduating class reflects the contribution of staff across the University. She notes that academic staff have spent years teaching, supervising, assessing and mentoring students, while administrative, technical and support staff have played an important role in supporting their academic journey.

“Behind every graduate is a team of staff who have invested time, expertise and effort over several years,” she acknowledges.

Assoc. Prof. Biira also recognises the support of parents and guardians, government, development partners, industry and institutions that have contributed to the students’ training and professional preparation.

The University now looks to the 2,268 graduands to show, through what they do next, the value of the education they have received.