By Victor Turinawe
Uganda Christian University (UCU) is set to graduate 670 students during the second phase of its 27th graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, at its main campus in Mukono.
The graduands include 390 males and 280 females, according to the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa, who addressed journalists during a press conference ahead of the ceremony.
Prof. Kitayimbwa said male graduands account for approximately 58 per cent of the total, while females represent 42 per cent. He attributed the difference partly to the inclusion of students from UCU’s regional campuses, including Arua and Masindi, where male students remain more dominant.
“This differs from the university’s usual graduation trends, in which female graduands often outnumber their male counterparts, particularly at ceremonies involving students from the main campus,” Prof. Kitayimbwa said.
Despite the higher number of male graduands, female students have demonstrated strong academic performance, accounting for 14 of the 22 graduands who will receive First Class degrees.
Prof. Kitayimbwa identified Jane Namunana, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Education, as the overall best student, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.70.
David Kutesa, a Bachelor of Divinity graduand, emerged as the best-performing male student, with a CGPA of 4.63.
The ceremony will also mark a significant milestone for UCU’s Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, as Prever Mukasa becomes the university’s first PhD graduate in Journalism, Media and Communication.
Prof. Kitayimbwa said seven students would graduate with Doctor of Philosophy degrees during the ceremony, marking an important achievement in the university’s postgraduate academic programmes.
The four graduands in Education Administration and Management are; Stephen Agonzibwa, Robert Bugwata, Asaph Kabakyenga and Tony Muzaale. Eleazer Irumba and Julius Tabi Pizza will graduate with PhDs in Theology, while Mukasa will receive a PhD in Journalism, Media and Communication.
He encouraged journalists and members of the public to explore the doctoral research projects, which he said are available in the university library.
The graduation is the second of four ceremonies planned by UCU for 2026. The first phase was held on July 4, while the third is scheduled for October 30 at Bishop Barham University College in Kabale. The fourth ceremony will take place on December 11 in Mbale.
Prof. Kitayimbwa said graduation activities began on Wednesday, October 21, with a lecture, followed by a commissioning service for graduands on Thursday, October 22, at 2pm.
He said the main ceremony on Friday would begin at exactly 8am, with the university expecting to conclude the proceedings by approximately 11am.
The Managing Director of Uganda Development Bank, Dr Patricia Adongo Ojangole, is expected to serve as the chief guest. She delivered a lecture as part of the pre-graduation activities on Wednesday.
Prof. Kitayimbwa also urged graduands and their parents to adhere to the university’s dress code, emphasising that UCU’s Christian identity requires students, parents and university staff to dress decently and appropriately.
“Failure to comply with the dress code means that one will not be allowed to access the graduation grounds,” Prof. Kitayimbwa emphasised.
Professor Angella Napakol, urged graduands and their parents to arrive early, with everyone expected to be seated by 7am ahead of the official start at 8am.
She also advised graduands to remain seated until the ceremony concludes, even after their names have been called, to ensure an orderly programme and coordinated departure.
Prof. Napakol said that, “The university would strictly enforce the access arrangements indicated on graduation invitation cards, which allow each graduand to attend with a maximum of two parents or guests.”
In a further announcement, Prof. Kitayimbwa said parents from the Democratic Republic of Congo would not be allowed to attend the ceremony, citing a national travel restriction reportedly imposed as a preventive measure against Ebola disease.
